10 Days Rule in Radiography - Essay Example

At the same time, missing a menstrual period could trigger an indication that a woman is pregnant. Meanwhile, conception can take place anywhere after the 10th day of pregnancy (Russell JR, et al. 1997), making x-ray and radiography procedures likely to coincide with early conception if taken before the next onset of menstruation, when a missed period could signify pregnancy. Radiation protection remains very important in pregnancy, knowing that when substantial doses of ~10 rem are taken on pregnant women, this can cause birth defects and malformations (Health Physics Society, 2014).

The 10 days rule, therefore, comes in as an important methodology or technique that is used to guarantee the safety of early fetuses against any potential damages. Examinations pertaining to the pelvic and abdominal areas, therefore, have the 10 days rule applying to but in cases of ankle and hand examinations, the 10 days rule may be exempted given the fact that there is relatively less risk in this area. In a very modernized system, radiographers have taken to the use of interventional radiological examinations that come with therapeutic applications instead of mainstream operations (Queen Mary Hospital, 2007).

28 days rule in radiography The 28 days rule in radiography is another form of protective regulation used in radiography procedures to guarantee the safety of potentially pregnant women from undue exposure. This is a rule that can be said to have come to replace the 10 days rule in radiography as the 10 days rule seemed to have some levels of inconsistencies with the identification of pregnancies (Royal College of Radiologists, 2012). With the 28 days rule, the emphasis is on a menstrual period that is overdue.

This means that there is no grace period allowed in this instance. But ahead of the application of the 28 days rule, the radiographer will ask the woman if she has any suspicions of being pregnant. Once a response that is not a firm no is given, the 28 days rule is applied. To effectively apply the rule the radiologist well as for the day of the last onset of menstruation. If the next menstruation has been overdue for any day following the 28 days period, there will have to be the postponement of the radiology procedure.

The 28 days rule is important in radiation protection for pregnant women because it guards against any form of uncertainty of giving radiography services that could possibly result in fatalities for early fetuses. The 28 days rule is however applicable for cases of pelvic and abdominal examinations (Hart D, et al., 2006). The Royal College of Radiologists (2012) also observe that the 28 days may be applicable for cases of computer tomography and barium enema. Once these procedures are followed, potential harm to the fetus is avoided.