A mobile C-arm case in the operating room requires intermittent fluoroscopy near the sterile field, with staff wearing aprons close to the table and the image intensifier near the patient. Scatter is high and the table has an open Bucky slot. Which fluoroscopy and mobile safety practice with drapes, Bucky slot cover, and cumulative timer best reduces dose?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
You can reduce scatter near the table by combining barriers with careful beam control and exposure tracking. Closing the slot, adding drapes, collimating tightly, and using the cumulative timer provide layered protection.
Full Explanation
The practice that combines table drapes, a closed Bucky slot, tight collimation, and cumulative-timer tracking is correct because each measure addresses a different part of dose reduction during intermittent fluoroscopy. Drapes attenuate scatter toward staff’s legs, the slot cover blocks an open path for radiation, and tight collimation limits the irradiated area and scatter produced; the timer provides a cumulative record of fluoroscopy use. Closing the slot while collimating tightly, keeping the intensifier close, and logging time controls the beam and tracks exposure, but omits the table drapes that reduce scatter toward the legs. Hanging table drapes, tight collimation, close intensifier positioning, and timer logging provide those controls but leave the open Bucky slot unaddressed. Drapes, a closed slot, tight collimation, and close intensifier positioning address barriers and beam geometry, but omit cumulative-timer tracking. An exam caveat is that close intensifier positioning does not replace either physical barrier or exposure monitoring. As a practical check, confirm that the drapes are in place, the slot cover is closed, collimation is tight, and the cumulative timer is being used.