Radiographic aids

What key properties would the ideal positioning aid have

• Adaptable-fit to size of patient

• Easy to clean and low maintenance

• Made fry, radiolucent material (x-ray photons can pass thru)

What are the properties of troughs

• Ideal for VD images

• Rigid plastic or foam based

• Range pf sizes and shapes

• Good for deep chested breeds e.g. GSD, greyhound, doberman

• Not goof for brachycephalic dogs as is hard on their airways

What are the properties of sandbags and wedges

• Commonly used to prevent rotation of structure- Want to make patient as flat as possible

• Do not physically restrain patienrs

• Radiopaque

• Radiolucent

what are the characteristics of ties and straps

• Good for when an animal is under GA

• If sedated then avoid as could jump off table and become injured

What are the 3 kinds of patient restraint

• Manual

• Physical

• Chemical

What are the characteristic of manual restraint

• Only in an emergency

• Handler must adhere to safety guidelines e.g. protective clothing/personal dosimeter

• Parts of handler must not be in primary beam regardless of protective clothing

What are some examples of physical restraint

• Rope ties, sandbags or radiolucent tape

• Radiolucent container-snakes etc

• Exotics-vasovagal reflex for reptiles

What are characteristics of physical restraint

• May result in excessive patient stress and injury without chemical restraint

What are the characteristics of chemical restraint

• Preferred method of restraint

• Patient specific considerations to be made

• Better image quality 

• Patient injury and handling

• Pain score?

What considerations need to be made for neonates

• Bone density

• Development stage

• Restraint

• Species

Neonates bone density

• Growth plates development

• Premature and abnormal

• Easily over exposed

• Low KV is key

What are the considerations made for exotics

• animal restraint of conscious animals

• Minimise stress

What should be the characteristics of x-ray equipment

• Should be easily cleaned

• Must immobilise patient

• Care when manipulating and securing patient-don’t want to over rotate

Examples of equipment

• Tubing

• Towels

• Blocks

• Containers

• Bandaging material