COMPARISON OF ABSORBED RADIATION-DOSES IN BARIUM AND AIR ENEMA REDUCTION OF INTUSSUSCEPTION - A PHANTOM STUDY

Objective. We assessed the relative radiation load in patients undergo ing hydrostatic and pneumatic reduction of childhood intussusception. Materials and methods. In a phantom study we simulated two situations occurring during reduction of intussusception. The absorbed radiation dose was measured at several positions in the phantom using either bar ium sulphate (BaSO4) or air in the simulated reduction, combined with either automatic exposure control (AEC) or constant exposure rate (CER ) at fluoroscopy. From these values the mean absorbed dose was calcula ted for different depth compartments within the phantom. Results. In t he barium study the mean absorbed dose averaged over the total irradia ted volume was 14-23 % lower when CER was used instead of AEC; in the air study the dose was 35-43 % lower when AEC was used instead of CER. The combination of air and AEC provided the lowest mean absorbed dose in the tissue. The barium enema created a low-radiation zone, which m ight be utilized for protecting radiation sensitive tissue. Conclusion . The use of BaSO4 or air in reduction of intussusception requires the proper combination with CER and AEC, respectively, to minimize the ra diation load to the patient; the lowest radiation load is obtained by using air and AEC.