Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Why Can't He Eat or Drink After Midnight? - March 2016 - Subscribe to Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.

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1 3 0 A C-arm Streamlined design and digital data have improved imaging. T he useful life of a well-maintained C-arm may span more than a decade, but most facilities will be lucky to experience 7 to 10 years of normal use. One indicator that it's time for an upgrade is an overall decrease in the image quality your equipment delivers. A deteriorating image makes it more difficult to complete cases within their allotted time frames, and extending procedure times results in increased radiation doses to patients and staff, user dissatisfaction and lost revenue for the facility. There's good news, though: Your next C-arm may incorporate some impressive advances. Here's what to look for. The flat factor What a difference a decade makes. The latest generation of mobile fluoroscopic imaging units has come a long way from older, bulkier models. In 2009 the flat panel detector, an alternative to traditional image intensifier technology, was introduced in the United States. Not only are flat panel detectors more streamlined, they're also able to provide highly detailed imaging, even of small structures, for orthope- dic clarity while exposing patients and staff to less radiation. Flat detectors also run cooler than image intensifiers, a technology that had not seen significant changes since its introduction. Mobile C-arms feature image intensifiers and image receptors that are either 6 inches, 9 inches or 12 to 13 inches. A 6-inch field of view is usu- ally found on mini C-arm systems, which are ideally suited for such orthopedic extremity applications as wrist, elbow, ankle and foot surger- ies. Mini C-arms with flat panel detectors create the lowest radiation doses, making them a good choice for pediatric applications. 1 3 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • M A R C H 2 0 1 6 Thinking of Buying … Karen Wenning, RN

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