Fluoro & pregnancy

[AviatorDoc]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

This question is in general, as I do not possess the appropriate equipment for it to be relevant to me personally.

What is the expected radiation exposure/risk with fluoro & being pregnant? Does anyone specifically not do them while pregnant? Any policies/procedures in place where you work regarding nurses/techs in the fluoro suite who may be pregnant?

 

[dc2md]

Great question!! My initial thought is that no one would even consider a fluoro injection on a pregnant patient. But what if it's a C-spine?? What about a hip?

Is it an absolute contraindication, or just relative contra??

 

[Tenesma]

i have seen pregnant rad. residents do fluoro wearing two layers of lead shielding.... but if it were me, i wouldn't take the risk personally...

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

wear your lead, stand back a bit while shooting, collimate, you'll be ok. Rad techs get pregnant all the time. Seriously, every two years, local hospital rad dept has a baby boom. I work with pregnant rad techs all the time.

 

[dc2md]

I think AviatorDoc was also referring to performing procedures on pregnant patients...not just the rad tech being pregnant.

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

Pregnant patients get pretty much nothing except PT and Tylenol from me. I'm not willing to accept a 20 - 21 year statute of limitations on anything I do in relation to the unborn. I don't get paid enough to take on that risk. If the patient is pregnant, they don't get into my fluoro room while I'm in there.

Blame the lawyers and our litigious society.

 

[AviatorDoc]

actually, i was speaking in regards to a colleague who is trying to decide if doing fluoroscopic procedures is worth the risk if she decides to have a baby.

never really considered doing injections on pregnant patients. I suppose i would say no, for the very reasons stated above.

 

[Jcm800]

Pregnant patients get pretty much nothing except PT and Tylenol from me. I'm not willing to accept a 20 - 21 year statute of limitations on anything I do in relation to the unborn. I don't get paid enough to take on that risk. If the patient is pregnant, they don't get into my fluoro room while I'm in there.

Blame the lawyers and our litigious society.

actually only time i do blind epidurals. twice in 4 years. but it worked...

i was "cleared" from the OB/GYN. The patients were begging me to do it both times. I asked about the issue of steroid, MFM said it wasnt an issue. I sat em up, and did it. put 5 cc total (completley arbritary, no local just saline and steroid).

 

[dc2md]

actually only time i do blind epidurals. twice in 4 years. but it worked...

i was "cleared" from the OB/GYN. The patients were begging me to do it both times. I asked about the issue of steroid, MFM said it wasnt an issue. I sat em up, and did it. put 5 cc total (completley arbritary, no local just saline and steroid).

were they having radicular pain or just LBP? think a dose pak or IM steroids would've worked just as well??

 

[Jcm800]

were they having radicular pain or just LBP? think a dose pak or IM steroids would've worked just as well??

radicualr pain, medrol dosepack was "discouraged" do to the systemics of the staroid, which is why they wanted the ESI. Alleged less systemic potential. These are two isolated cases in the community, aproach this info/logic with caution...