Sunday, 4 August 2013

Colored x-ray of a full-term fetus in breech position.


Colored x-ray of a full-term fetus in breech position.

9 comments:

  1. Wait, aren't x-rays unhealthy for babies during pregnancy?!

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  2. It's always the amount of xrays you receive which can be a problem. Furthermore the effect will probably be larger early in the pregnancy.

    So, yes it could be dangerous, but in this case I wouldn't be too worried.

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  3. Special x-rays are used to determine the baby’s position and the size of the pelvis to determine if a vaginal delivery of a breech baby can be safely attempted which I assume  was the case here.  Special X-rays of a full term baby are not dangerous.

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  4. Corina Marinescu
    What do you mean by "special xrays" ?

    Xrays are normally defined as electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength of around 1 Ångstrøm (10^-10 meter) corresponding to an energy of ~12 keV.

    Do you mean that the intensity is lower than conventional medical use of xrays? Or do you mean that the radiation used is actually different from the xrays I just defined.

    Thanks.

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  5. A special x-ray exposure can be reduced  using a low-exposure technique. With the use of a low-exposure (40-mAs) technique, it is possible to obtain images of acceptable quality for the necessary measurements. The resulting dose to the fetus is approximately 2.3 mGy (0.23 rad).
    Doses less than 5 Rad are always considered to cause no issues for a full term baby (38-40 w).

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  6. Corina Marinescu
    Thanks!

    So it's still the same x-rays, just a lower dose :-)

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  7. Lower dose or not...as a dr. and mom I'd recommend a 4D ultrasound than an X-ray. Unfortunately we live in a sad time where medical procedures are costly so people are forced to choose what they can  afford.

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  8. >Unfortunately we live in a sad time where medical procedures are costly

    And in those happy time where we HAVE those procedures, unlike 100 years ago.

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