Accidental X-ray exposure…plz help

[Mimi2023]

Hi there,

it’s my first time posting and just needed some reassurance. I am currently training to work in operating departments. I am also pregnant, so cutting a long story short I was around 4-5 weeks pregnant at the time and walked into a theatre using xray. They were using a c-arm machine for a orthopaedic procedure, im not 100% certain if the radiographer did any X-rays while I was in there without a lead apron. I was talking to my mentor and was only in there for a few minutes. But im worrying myself silly because I’ve read that the greatest risk to the Fetus is in the first trimester, am I being silly? If there are any radiologists/radiographers on here plz plz can you help. Is there a remote on the c-arm machine that would take the X-ray and do they stand back themselves before exposing because I didn’t see that happen? She pressed some buttons on the machine though that’s why I’m anxious… thank you

Hi OP. Not a radiographer but work in paediatric oncology and regularly see children who have had nuclear med scans (i.e. Injected with radioactive substance before being scanned). I was sat with a child for around 20 mins after they had their injection completely unbeknown to me while I was 7 weeks pregnant. I only found out a few weeks later and as you can imagine was beside myself with worry! I had a risk assessment by the physicists at work who calculated the predicted dose exposure which came out as incredibly low and nothing to worry about. In fact she said you'd get more radiation exposure from living in Cornwall for a year or flying on a long haul flight. If it helps I'm now 24 weeks with no problems so far (touch wood!).

I would let your employer know as they have a duty to do a risk calculation assessment but be reassured that the dose will be so incredibly low if you were exposed :)

If X Rays were active, there should have been red lights outside the theatre warning other staff not to enter. Also, if the machine is switched on but not emitting rays, there should be yellow warning lights advising that the area was in use. No one should be walking into a theatre with the red lights on and entering with caution under yellow. Just because the machine us switched on doesn't necessarily mean exposure. I think you might need to check with your mentor or the staff in the area to be sure.
Not a radiographer but I build the facilities for them...

radiographers are generally very good at checking that everyone is covered before flashing (which is just as well when so many people take no notice of it themselves and stroll on into x-ray theatres without checking).

Thank you for your reply, I’m glad everything turned out fine for you! Can i ask how do I get in touch with medical physicists at work? I work in an Nhs trust…I do have a clinical skills facilitator but when I mentioned it she didn’t seem too concerned and forgot about it. I really want to revisit the particular patient case and investigate at what point the radiographer was taking X-rays during the case and the dose that was used, is there any way I can do this?

We use a c-arm where I work. As long as your are 6 feet away from it you don’t need to be wearing a lead apron.

With a mini c arm, if it's more than 6 feet away from you poses no risk, even if you are not wearing a lead apron, however they usually ask everyone in theatre to wear a lead apron when one is in use just to be extra safe. Plus, they wouldn't have flashed unless they were sure that everyone in theatre was covered.

Don't worry! You'll be absolutely fine! I'm an ODP and am on my second pregnancy, so have lots of experience with what is/isn't safe

Radiographer here. You will be fine. Main thing I did in Theatre was looked at the doors for people coming in and out. I'd not have X rayed while you were in. Different machines are different. But pressing buttons on the machine is most likely not X raying. X raying in Theatre,.the radiographer looks and the surgeon, who will often say X ray, flash (or expect you to mind read). They might press a button or use a foot switch. If, the unlikely event x-rays were on in the short time you were in, Theatre doses are pretty low, especially a non spinal orthopaedic case. For spinal, as someone else said, 6 foot away and it's negligible.

This is not the case with a c arm, which is portable and not connected to the room for warning lights.

Bramblecrumble22 thank you for your msg it’s reassuring, can I ask you a question? Do they use fluoroscopy in orthopaedic cases such as an ORIF? I’ve been doing too much reading online and scared wondering if they were doing that when I walked in? Or is it single shots here and there for diagnostic/documentation purposes? Xx

Orifs are mostly single shots. To check the screw is in the correct place as they go along.

Thank you Bramblecrumble22! I’m sorry for mithering but would you happen to know the rough dosage used for c-arm X-rays on these orthopaedic cases? For example I’ve read a chest x-ray is less than 0.01MGY and an abdominal is about 1.4MGY? If it was a knee orif what would the setting be on the c-arm? I’m just trying to figure out the potential scatter exposure 🥹 xx

Honestly negligible for scatter, unless you are as close as the surgeon. Even if they were x-raying (doubtful). There is background radiation all around us from the sun, rocks food etc. The week you were 4-5 weeks pregnant you'd have got a chest x-ray amount. But to the patient having x-rays for an orif is similar or less than a chest X ray.

That’s reassuring, sorry again for taking up so much of your time I can put my
mind to rest now :) thank you again! Xx