Technical note: A comparison of physician doses in C-Arm and CT fluoroscopy procedures.

PURPOSE: We address the misconception that the typical physician dose is higher for CT fluoroscopy (CTF) procedures compared to C-Arm procedures. METHODS: We compare physician scatter doses using two methods: a literature review of reported doses and a model based on a modified form of the dose area product (DAP). We define this modified form of DAP, "cumulative absorbed DAP," as the product of the area of the x-ray beam striking the patient, the dose rate per unit area, and the exposure time. RESULTS: The patient entrance dose rate for C-Arm fluoroscopy (0.2 mGy/s) was found to be 15 times lower than for CT fluoroscopy (3 mGy/s). A typical beam entrance area for C-Arm fluoroscopy reported in the literature was found to be 10.6 × 10.6 cm (112 cm2), whereas for CTF was 0.75 × 32 cm (24 cm2). The absorbed DAP rate for C-Arm fluoroscopy (22 mGy*cm2/s) was found to be 3.3 times lower than for CTF (72 mGy*cm2/s). The mean fluoroscopy time for C-Arm procedures (710 s) was found to be 21 times higher than for CT fluoroscopy procedures (23 s). The cumulative absorbed DAP for C-Arm procedures was found to be 9.4 times higher when compared to CT procedures (1.59 mGy*m2 vs. 0.17 mGy*m2). CONCLUSIONS: The higher fluoroscopy time in C-Arm procedures leads to a much lower cumulative DAP (i.e., physician scatter dose) in CTF procedures. This result can inform interventional physicians deciding on whether to perform inter-procedural imaging inside the room as opposed to retreating from the room.

[Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation placed through the subclavian artery as a bridge to heart transplantation. Case report]. / Balón de contrapulsación intraaórtico por acceso subclavio como puente a trasplante cardíaco. Reporte de casos.

Advanced heart failure is a major health problem for which heart transplantation or left ventricular assist devices are the only effective treatments. Intra-aortic balloon pump inserted using femoral artery access as a bridge to heart transplantation is still frequently used, but has the disadvantage of limiting the patient's movements, hence exposing him or her to the hazards of immobility and threatening the success of the procedure or hindering recovery. Access through the subclavian artery has become an attractive alternative since it doesn't impair the patient's mobility, and there is increasing evidence supporting its use. We present the first case of subclavian counterpulsation balloon implantation in a cardiovascular care center in Colombia.

Diagnóstico y seguimiento del feto con restricción del crecimiento intrauterino (RCIU) y del feto pequeño para la edad gestacional (PEG). Consenso Colombiano / Diagnosing and managing foetuses suffering from intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and foetuses which are small for their gestational age (SGA). Colombian consensus

Objetivo: dar a conocer a los participantes en el cuidado de la salud de la mujer embarazada, los más recientes avances y recomendaciones clínicas de un tema controversial que es causa importante de morbimortalidad perinatal en Colombia. Metodología: se revisaron las bases de datos Cochrane, Medline y Embase, además de la base latinoamericana SciELO, libros de la especialidad y consensos de otras sociedades científicas en búsqueda de estudios diagnósticos, revisiones sistemáticas, estudios aleatorizados y metaanálisis relativos a los términos: “restricción de crecimiento intrauterino” y “pequeño para la edad gestacional” en el período comprendido entre 1995-2009. A partir de esto, se realizó un manuscrito inicial, el cual fue sometido a discusión por medio de Internet. Posteriormente, el manuscrito final fue discutido y modificado en la ciudad de Medellín (Colombia), en el marco del congreso de Medicina Fetal S.A. en septiembre de 2008. Resultados: teniendo en cuenta la evidencia disponible, se presentó una guía para el manejo del feto PEG y con RCIU, la cual puede ser aplicada a Colombia. Conclusiones: este tema genera controversia debido a la falta de evidencia científica para la aplicación de algunas definiciones y pruebas diagnósticas en su manejo.

Objective: making those participating in pregnant women’s health care aware of the latest clinical recommendations regarding a controversial topic which is an important cause of perinatal morbidity in Colombia. Methodology: the Cochrane Library, Medline and Embase databases were searched as well as SciELO Latin-American database, specialised books and consensus from other scientific societies for diagnostic studies, systematic reviews, randomised trials and meta-analysis carried out between 19952009 regarding the terms “intrauterine growth restriction”and “small for gestational age”. An initial manuscript was written and submitted for on-line discussion. The final manuscript was discussed and amended in Medellín, Colombia, during the Foetal Medicine Congress held in September 2008. Results: a guide to managing SGA and IUGR foetuses was written and is presented here; it has been based on the best available evidence and could be applied in Colombia. Conclusions: this issue produces controversy due to a lack of scientific evidence for applying some definitions and diagnostic tests when managing IUGR and SGA foetuses.