head first/feet first why????

rekex · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 19

just wondering......i know that when doing a CT scan, the patient can go in the gantry either feet or head first.

When patients are claustraphobic, it is better to move them in feet first....so in what circumstances would the patient go in head first??

it would be gr8 it someone could help me out with this.
cheers Smile

RadMaster · Site Admin Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Posts: 179

Tailor it to the exam being done... you may need to change the orientation of the display if you go feet first, though.

rekex · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 19

i understand what u mean. but, could u please be more specific as to when exactly it would be a good idea for the patient to go head first

thanx Smile

CTDave · Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 8:31 pm Post subject: Re: head first/feet first why?

Unless you still have a 1st or second generation scanner, CT gantry size is not an issue. With the advent of MDCT speed has made CT exams much faster, eliminating the time the patient spends in the gantry. In most 3rd, 4th and 5th generation scanners, the patient is placed in the scanner feet first, except for head and neck protocols. At our institution we request the reffering doctors, who know that his/her patient is claustraphobic, be given a mild sedative before the exam. The total number of patients we do in a year, who are claustraphobic is about 4 to 5 %. We also do a pre-scan survey to ask if a patient may be claustraphobic.
In this country most hospitals and clinics are using MDCT, and practice the same methods I described above.

I hope this helps, and may I ask what was the purpose of your question?

CTDave Smile

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rekex · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 19

CT Dave,

the purpose of my question..........

for on of our pracs at univesity that question was.........
"what would be reasons why a patient is may be positioned head first/ feet first". this is kinda a silly question i think..

so , that was the purpose....

regards.
rekex

CTDave · Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 10:47 am Post subject: head or feet first

I agree!!
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peacemaker · Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 5 Location: ohio

IMO, you would have to put the patient head first for a head ct because you need the patient's head in the head holder. You would need to put the patient feet first if you were doing a lower extremity. Most other exams can go either way.

ScrmnWoody · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 40 Location: Bellingham, WA

For Head, Neck, and upper extremity scanning we put the patient in head first. It's less table travel and for lack of a better term, it just makes sense. Everything else is scanned feet first.

Our exceptions to this would be in situations where a patient has MULTIPLE IVs, ventilator hoses, monitoring equipment, etc. In those cases, I don't care what body part I'm scanning, the patient is going in feet first. It's easier, quicker, and safer than threading all that stuff through the gantry in order to scan the patient head first, then hoping none of it is pulled out of the patient during table movement.
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papa · Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:43 am Post subject:

a lot of it is also personal preference. when i'm at the hospital, i tend to scan everybody head first, simply for the reason that my room is always ready no matter what kind of patient comes into my room (stroke, ICU, out patient, etc). basically whatever is easier for you.

but to answer the question, i agree, your head and neck scans should be done head first

papa
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