title: Removal of comfort pads underneath babies: a method of reducing radiation exposure to neonates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The recent increasing utilization of imaging has increased the population exposure to ionizing radiation. With increasing knowledge of the potential harm of radiation exposure, efforts should be made to minimize patient radiation whenever possible, especially in young children. The purpose of this study was to use the exposure index (EI) standard to assess the potential for reducing radiation dose to babies by removing a soft comfort pad, often placed underneath the baby. The pad is located between the baby and the image detector plate. As such it absorbs x-rays that have already passed through the baby but have not yet reached the imaging detector plate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a thoracic infant phantom and fixed exposure factors, we measured the percentage of the radiation exiting a neonatal chest phantom that was absorbed/attenuated by the comfort pad, before it hit the detector to create the image. We studied comfort pads of 4 different thicknesses, ranging from 0.5″ to 8″.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Radiation beam attenuation, ranging from 12% to 72.1%, was found with all comfort pads, with increased x-ray beam attenuation occurring with increasing pad thickness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study shows that comfort pads cause a high attenuation of the radiation beam, after it exits the chest phantom. As such, removal of the pads prior to radiographic exposure of babies is a method of potentially reducing patient radiation exposure in the newborn nursery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Riley Children's Hospital, Indiana University School of Medicine, 705 Riley Hospital Dr., Room 1053, Indianapolis, IN 46202.
authors.forename: Amit S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Rattan
authors.forename: Mervyn D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D001512:Bedding and Linens; D001822:Body Burden; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D056888:Patient Positioning / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011482:Protective Devices; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014963:X-Ray Intensifying Screens
keywords: Radiation safety; radiation dose