ABSTRACT 226

Abstract

Background and aims: The bedside chest radiography is very important in critical care, especially in patients with mechanical ventilation. The radiation received in every X ray is very low, but the patient could received a lot of X ray during one hospitalization. Aims: To estimate the radiation received by Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) patients secondary to bedside chest radiography (BCR) and to assess the safety of the PICU staff criteria regarding BCR indication. Methods: PICU patients were characterized in terms of age, number of BCR during stay and others. A simulation was made using exposure parameters entered by radiographer operators. Entrance surface doses (ESD) were obtained for different ages. Total effective dose was calculated for each patient from the ESD and the number of BCR during stay. The age ESD p75 constitutes a diagnostic reference level (DRL), wich was compared to international literature. Results: The PICU patients received total effective dose secondary to BCR goes from 0.086 to 0.156 mSv, which is considered not significant. The ESD by age are between 49% and 219% higher than those reported in the literature. Conclusions: Although a higher dose level than that used in developed countries is currently being employed, this increased radiation does not result in significant harm to our patients. The PICU staff criteria regarding BCR indication are safe. Progress must be made in order to optimization of radiation dose in diagnostic radiology nationwide.