Paediatric dose measurements for chest X-ray examinations at Maternity and Children Hospital in Najran - Saudi Arabia

The entrance skin dose (ESD) of chest X-ray examinations for AP and PA projections of paediatric patients at Maternity and Children Hospital in Najran, Saudi Arabia have been obtained using DoseCal software. The majority of the results obtained show low measured ESD for chest X-ray examinations. The mean of ESD for the AP projection was found to be 37.5, 40.5, 41.3, and 52.3 μ Gy for age groups 0-1, >1-5, >5-10, and >10-15 years respectively. However, the ESD for PA projection was found to be 50.7 and 56.7 μ Gy for age groups >5-10, and >10-15 years respectively.     

Regional survey of image quality and radiation dose in computed tomography examinations in Saudi Arabia

This study is the first regional investigation in Najran, Saudi Arabia aimed at investigating radiation dose and image quality of computed tomography (CT) examinations. The survey data was collected from five scanners in four hospitals. For all CT scanners, a correction factor was calculated to measure the weighted computed tomography dose index (CTDI $_{w}$ ) using standard dosimetry phantoms. The CTDI $_{w}$ were reported in this study and compared with other countries. It was found that most CTDI $_{w}$ values were close to the European reference levels and in line with the results of similar surveys in the other parts of world. Concerning image quality, 80 % of the scanners were found to be in compliance with the relative international guidelines for all the examined parameters     

The shaping of radiation doses and of dose-effect curves for patients undergoing x-ray studies

Human peripheral blood values are used to define an effective dose at X-ray study. Processing is made on a technical unit comprising a blood analyzer and a computer supplied by a so-called automatic classifying system. The program is based on the recognition of images with nonstatistical assessment. A dose-effect could be first plotted in the range of effective single radiation doses of 0.8-25 mZv.     

Individual doses for women undergoing screening mammography examinations in Poland in 2007

Exposure doses to women undergoing screening mammography examinations should be kept as low as reasonably achievable, but they should ensure high enough image quality for adequate diagnosis. The aim of this study was to estimate the radiation risk according to the 'European guidelines for quality assurance in breast cancer screening and diagnosis', fourth edition (European Commission 2006). Materials for this study were obtained from data from 250 screening mammography facilities in Poland. For every mammography facility, a standard average glandular dose for routine exposure was calculated. Furthermore, average glandular doses for individual mammography examinations obtained according to the methods proposed by Dance et al (2000 Phys. Med. Biol. 45 3225-40) were calculated. The average glandular doses determined for 250 mammography facilities ranged from 0.12 to 14.56 mGy (the mean values ranged from 0.62 to 4.53 mGy). Only for 39 mammography facilities were all exposures found to be below the acceptable level for an average glandular dose, and for only 18 mammography facilities did no exposures exceed the achievable levels for an average glandular dose. Average glandular doses to women undergoing mammography screening attained unnecessary high values, and they were found to depend on the technical parameters of the mammography equipment and maintenance of mammography units by personnel in various mammography facilities.     

Environmental radiation measurements using TLD-900 at the King Saud University Campus, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

To determine the baseline environmental radiation and resulting population exposure, natural background levels at the King Saud University campus were measured using CaSO4:Dy (TLD-900) discs. Measurements were made 1 m above ground level at 10 locations. Two different calculational methods were utilized to account for signal fading. In the first method, a fading correction factor was determined and used separately. In the second method, a separate correction factor for fading was not required because the determined calibration factor was carrying this correction. Results of the two methods were similar. Measurements were performed on a quarterly basis for a 2-y period (January 1988 to December 1989). The annual average dose rate was 565.4 +/- 27.1 mu Gy y-1 in air.     

The value of nutritional assessment methods in surgical patients living in Saudi Arabia

Several methods have been propsed to assess nutritional status of patients in relation to post-operative complications including instant nutritional assessment (INA) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI). Weight loss (WL) has also been related to post-operative morbidity. A prospective study was conducted to evaluate the prognostic ability of INA, PNI and WL in 300 patients affected by major and semi-major surgeries. Post-operative sepsis occurred in 28 (9.3%) patients. Of the 300 patients studied, 91 (30.2%) had WL 10%; 12 patients were septic. Of the 28 septic patients indentified, 24 (85.7%) were within the high-risk group as identified by PNI characterisation. When both serum albumin and total lymphocyte count were abnormal, sepsis rate was 100%. All methods had a Youden index greater than one. Therefore, WL should be the first parameter assessed, and if WL is > 10%, then INA can be used to assess the patient further.     

广东省腰椎片检查受照剂量的调查与分析

目的 了解广东省腰椎正、侧位片受检者的受照剂量水平.方法 按照全国X射线诊断医疗照射的剂量水平调查方案进行.结果 得出正、侧位腰椎片受检者的平均受照剂量分别是7.34和12.40 mGy.腰椎正、侧位片受检者的受照剂量男性为5.37和14.37 mGy,女性为6.69和11.79 mGy,体胖、体中、体瘦者分别为5.68和14.93 mGy、6.41和12.22 mGy、5.91和11.67 mGy.在省、市、县、镇级医院检查时所受照剂量的结果分别是6.20、6.93、7.01和8.85mGy;12.56、12.17、11.76和13.21 mGy,受照剂量与不同性别、体型、医院级别关系不大.结论 其均值基本代表广东省腰椎正、侧位片受检者的受照剂量水平.     

经腹子宫切除术后患者医院感染的相关因素分析

目的探讨经腹子宫切除术后患者医院感染的相关因素,以降低医院感染率。方法选取妇科2011年6月-2012年5月接受经腹子宫切除术治疗的患者487例,根据术后是否发生医院感染分为感染组与未感染组,对比两组患者术后医院感染的相关因素进行logistic回归分析。结果最终判定为术后医院感染患者24例,感染率为4.9%;患者年龄、合并疾病、麻醉方式、手术范围、手术时间、术后卧床时间、切口疼痛程度、陪护人数、患者对健康教育依从性以及术后抗菌药物使用时间等是医院感染相关因素(P<0.05);logistic回归分析显示,患者年龄大、有合并疾病、全麻、手术范围大、手术时间长、术后卧床时间长、术后切口疼痛强烈、陪护≥2人、患者对健康教育依从性差以及术后抗菌药物使用时间短等因素为经腹子宫切除术后医院感染的危险因素(P<0.05)。结论经腹子宫切除术后医院感染危险因素较多,临床实际工作中应给予足够重视,对于具备上述危险因素患者加强护理管理,以降低医院感染率。     

腹部Ⅲ类手术切口感染危险因素的调查与分析

目的了解腹部Ⅲ类手术切口感染的危险因素,以便采取有效的预防措施,降低切口感染率。方法回顾性分析2010年8月-2013年6月急诊外科204例腹部Ⅲ类手术切口患者临床资料,每份病例均填写统一调查表格,所有数据采用SPSS 11.5软件进行统计处理。结果 2010年8月-2013年6月204例患者中切口感染48例,感染率23.5%;单因素分析显示,切口感染率≥60岁、肥胖、切口长度≥12cm、手术时间≥2h及有基础疾病均高于14~59岁,非肥胖、切口长度<12cm及无基础疾病患者(P<0.05);logistic多因素回归分析显示,高龄、肥胖、手术切口长度、手术时间、基础疾病是腹部Ⅲ类手术切口感染的独立危险因素。结论腹部Ⅲ类手术切口高感染率是多因素作用的结果,临床上应采取综合措施进行相应的干预以降低感染率。     

62例腹部外科患者切口感染的高危因素研究

目的 探讨影响腹部外科手术切口感染的高危因素,为预防切口感染提供科学依据.方法 回顾性调查分析2010年2月-2011年8月62例腹部外科切口感染患者的临床资料,对可能影响切口感染的高危因素进行单因素和多因素logistic回归分析.结果 单因素分析显示,患者的性别(x2=5.4,男4.2％,女5.3％)、年龄(x2 =13.8,≥50岁11.1％,＜50岁4.5％)、肥胖(x2=6.7,是9.5％,否4.8％)、糖尿病(x2=24.1,是18.1％,否5.9％)、切口分类(x2 =15.3,Ⅰ类4.3％,Ⅱ、Ⅲ类7.7％)、手术性质(x2=12.2,急诊5.9％,择期2.4％)、手术时间(x2 =14.7,≥90 min 8.1％,＜90 min 4.0％)、术前抗菌药物预防(x2=27.4％,有2.9％,无10.7％)与术后切口感染有关(P＜0.05)；多因素logistic回归分析显示,患者的年龄(x2=4.13,OR=2.84)、切口分类(x2=8.26,OR=3.49)、糖尿病(x2=9.49,OR=5.42)、手术时间(x2=15.48,OR=3.27)、术前抗菌药物(x2 =15.48,OR=6.26)预防是与术后切口感染相关的高危因素(P＜0.05).结论 在患者年龄不可控的情况下,应尽量选用Ⅰ类切口手术、缩短手术时间、进行基础疾病治疗、术前给予抗菌药物预防以降低腹部外科手术切口感染发生率.     

腹部闭合性损伤剖腹探查术后再次手术分析

目的　分析了腹部闭合性损伤剖腹探查术后 1 2例再次手术的病因分析及预防措施。方法　对腹部闭合性损伤病人 2 56例及 9例术后自基层医院转入的病人临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果　行剖腹探查术的 2 4 6例中术后有 3例进行了再次手术 (1 .2 % ) ,其余 9例均为基层医院转入我院治疗。本组 1 0例经再次手术而痊愈出院 ,2例死亡 (1 6 .67% )。结论　对腹部闭合性损伤剖腹探查术中 ,术中探查一定要全面、彻底 ;正确处理腹膜后血肿是降低死亡率的主要措施之一。术后一旦发生漏诊漏治 ,易并发多脏器功能衰竭 ,治疗困难 ,死亡率高。因此 ,应引起高度警惕 ,重在预防     

Estimation of adult patient doses for common diagnostic X-ray examinations in Wad-madani,Sudan: derivation of local diagnostic reference levels

The objectives of this study were to estimate patient dose in some common diagnostic X-ray examinations. Radiation doses were estimated for 307 patients in six public hospitals comprising 7 X-ray units in Wad-madani, Sudan. Entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) was estimated in a three step protocol: First, X-ray unit output Y(d) was measured at a distance, d for different peak tube voltages and tube loadings (mAs). Next, incident air kerma (K_i) was calculated from Y(d) using inverse square law combined with patient exposure factors. ESAK was calculated from K_i using backscatter factor, B. Mean ESAK values are comparable to those reported in other countries and are below reference dose levels. The estimated mean ESAK values are: 0.3, 2.2, 2.2, 2.9, 2.8, 3.1, and 7.5 mGy for chest PA, Skull AP/PA, Skull LAT, Abdomen, Pelvis AP, Lumbar Spine AP and Lumbar Spine LAT examinations, respectively. The results are used for dose optimization, and to propose local diagnostic reference levels.     

The use of silicon gel for treating children's burn scars in Saudi Arabia: a case study

This case study is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of silicon gel as an important option in burn scar treatment and to provide treatment guidelines that address cultural, clinical and patient compliance issues in Saudi Arabia. The case study involves an 18-month-old child whose burn scar was treated for a period of 15 months with silicon gel. The Vancouver Burn Scar Scale assessment (Baryza and Baryza, 1995), used to track progress across the duration of treatment, reflected an improvement in the scar as the composite score changed from 9 to 2. Strategies for problem solving and addressing needs unique to the environment of Saudi Arabia were also developed over the treatment period. The findings of this case study indicate that silicon gel may be a superior treatment option under certain circumstances. Further research with a wider sample is indicated, given the high incidence of childhood burn injuries in Saudi Arabia.     

The ID-03 X-ray dosimeter for monitoring the radiation parameters of X-ray equipment in roentgenography

The paper presents an [symbol: see text]-03 X-ray dosimeter designed by the Research Institute of Introscopy, Spektr Moscow Research-and-Production Association, for monitoring the radiation parameters of X-ray plants at roentgenography. A Si(Li)-based semiconductor detector with the p-i-n structure is used as a detector of X-ray radiation. The technical data of the dosimeter are given.