Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2025
Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates
Published on: December 31, 2015
Effect of Clinician-directed Technical Specifications on Entrance Skin Doses in Neonates
Ketaki Nawlakhe Shrikant1, Femitha Pournami2, Anila V Panackal1
1Department of Neonatology, Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Health, Trivandrum, Kerala.
Objective:
To compare the entrance skin doses (ESD) before and after implementation of a radiation safety policy in neonates (RSN), which focused on clinician-directed technical specifications on the digital X-ray machine.
Methods:
Prospective observations included two sets of X-rays: Before (BRSN) and after (ARSN) implementation of RSN (documented indication for X-ray/expected posttest findings, settings of 40 kVp, 0.5 mAs, film-focus distance 100 cm, gonadal-shield, optimal collimation, and post-shoot image-enhancement).
Results:
33 and 32 X-rays were analyzed in respective groups. Mean (SD) of calculated and machine-quantified ESD (µGy/m2) was higher in BRSN group as compared to ARSN group (P <0.001). All ARSN X-rays were interpretable for expected post-test findings.
Conclusion:
Clinicians' cognizance of ability to make consequential bedside technical specifications, can reduce ESD without affecting interpretability. These single observations could have a larger impact in sick neonates, where multiple X-rays are done.
