title: The hazard of scattered radiation in a trauma intensive care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients admitted to the trauma intensive care unit (TICU) often require bedside imaging procedures such as radiographs, fluoroscopic placement of enteral feeding tubes, and insertion of vena cava filters. The potential for scattered radiation exposure is a concern to healthcare workers. Our study's purpose was to measure the level of scattered ionizing radiation present in a TICU.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study was conducted over 3 months in an open-design, ten-bed TICU of a Level I trauma center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen dosimeters were placed in selected areas of the TICU to measure the amount of scattered radiation present. Standard radiation protection precautions were used throughout the study period. At the end of each month, data from the dosimeters were sent to the manufacturer for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One thousand seventy-four radiologic studies were performed at the bedside during the study period (803 portable chest radiographs, 103 abdominal radiographs, 303 extremity radiographs, 223 spine radiographs, and 15 fluoroscopic procedures). Dosimetry analysis showed <5 mrem (1/1000 roentgen equivalent in man) scattered radiation per month (<60 mrem/year) in each of the monitored areas. All monitored areas measured <2 mrem per week of scattered radiation when adjusted for occupancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The level of scattered radiation in our TICU is less than the recommended allowable exposure of <100 mrem/year, indicating that radiation exposure is not a significant occupational hazard in our TICU, even in the setting of frequent use of bedside imaging studies.
authors: Department of General Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA.
authors: Gamal
authors: G
authors: Mostafa
authors: Ronald F
authors: RF
authors: Sing
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: McKeown
authors: Toan T
authors: TT
authors: Huynh
authors: B Todd
authors: BT
authors: Heniford
mesh_terms: D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D009657:North Carolina; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D014193:Trauma Centers