Portable Check-Off

CHEST:

Norm:

  • 100 - 120 kVp

  • 3 mAs

Pediatric:

  • 60 - 80 kVp

  • 1 - 2 mAs

ABDOMEN:

Norm:

  • 85 kVp

  • 25 mAs

Pediatric:

  • 60 - 75 kVp

  • 5 - 15 mAs

FINGER, HAND, WRIST:

Norm:

  • 65 - 70 kVp

  • 3 mAs

Pediatric:

  • 40 - 48 kVp

  • 1 - 3 mAs

FOREARM AND ELBOW:

Norm:

  • 65 - 70 kVp

  • 2 - 5 mAs

Pediatric:

  • 50 - 60 kVp

  • 2 - 3 mAs

TOE, FOOT, ANKLE:

Norm:

  • 65 - 70 kVp

  • 2 - 4 mAs

Pediatric:

  • 50 - 55 kVp

  • 1 - 2 mAs

POSITIONING

  • positioning for portable exams are typically simple (PA/AP, Lateral, Obliques, etc.) given the state of the patient being unable to be transported to the exam room

  • step out of room or wear lead gown when shooting

  • portable position typically best when corner of portable aligns with corner of bed

  • all SID for projections is around 40, except chest

  • dorsal decubitis - patient supine, CR aimed thru side

    • side stated in projection name against IR

  • R or L lateral decubitis - patient supine and on side, CR through MSP

    • side stated in projection is side down

⁸

CHEST: AP

main purpose is air/fluid levels so, have the patient sitting up to demonstrate that pathology

  • center 3 inches below jugular notch

  • make sure there’s light over shoulder

  • top of lengthwise board close to shoulder and angle down to throw clavicles out of apices

  • have the angle of the CR match the angle of the CHEST

  • get a good distance between patient and CR: about 50 to 72 SID

ABDOMEN: KUB

main purpose is abdominal pathologies or bowel obstructions

  • center at iliac crests

  • CR perpendicular to IR

EXTREMITIES: AP, OBLIQUE, LATERALS, NEUTRALS

main purpose is bone injury

  • straightforward projections

  • neutral projections if cannot perform other projections

  • keep everything on same plane if possible