Question

Please discuss one of the following topics:

1. Patient Transfers in the Nuclear Medicine Setting

2. Anatomical Positions Used in Nuclear Medicine

Answer 1

Nuclear medicine is a branch of medicine involving the application of radioactive substances in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. These radioactive substances are called radiopharmaceuticals. Diagnostic procedures such as PET scans and I-131 radiotherapy,CT,MRI uses this..Examples of diseases treated with nuclear medicine procedures are hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, lymphomas, and bone pain from some types of cancer.

diagnostic Tests

• Diagnostic nuclear medicine studies are performed with Tc-99m (technetium-99m)
• Fluorine-18 (F-18) and Gallium-68, are used with PET imaging;
• Myocardial perfusion (blood flow) imaging can be performed with technetium-99m (Tc-99m) sestamibi, thallium-201 (Tl-201) or a combination of both.  
• , usually attached to octreotide (DOTATATE), is a PET imaging radioisotope. It should be undetectable one day after a test.

It is as important to ensure your own safety as it is to ensure the safety of all patients at the scene.When handling patients, use Universal Precautions as an approach to infection control.The whole concept of radiation safety is time, distance and shielding.

1. Use time, distance, shielding, and containment to reduce exposure.
2. Keeping the time of exposure to a minimum and Maintaining distance from the source
3. Use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as personal protective gloves and shoe covers,protective drapes, lead or lead equivalent aprons before entering. A lead apron is necessary if the nurse is close to the source of radiation.
4. Wear dosimeters (e.g., film or TLD badges) if issued.
5. Transport the patient by the most direct route.
6. The patient shall not be left in public waiting areas or corridors. If necessary, the transporter shall remain in the area to keep other people at least 6 feet from the patient.
7. When transporting the patient, do not share elevators with other staff or patients.

8. The use of universal precautions when handling human blood, human tissue and body fluids protects hospital workers from radioactive material contamination.

9. When working in nuclear medicine, wear protective clothing. Protective clothing includes closed toe shoes, and the covering of bare skin such as arms and legs.

10. The nurse should step outside when the image is taken. If nurses must stay in the room for some reason or are within six feet of the machine, they must wear a lead apron
11. You should wrap the patient in a blanket or sheet during movement, and save all related clothing and bedding in plastic bags.Identify the bags clearly as “RADIOACTIVE - DO NOT DISCARD.”

Neither pregnant members of the nursing staff nor female nurses who are trying to conceive should attend such duties

Anatomical position is the fundamental term used in body positioning. In this position, the patient is standing and facing front. The arms are down at the sides and the palms are turned forward so that you can see them. Feet are pointed straight ahead and the toes are lying down on the floor.

anterior, or ventral- The surface of the body that is facing front .

posterior, or dorsal, surface- The surface of the body facing the rear . Any anatomical structure located in the half of the body that is adjacent to the posterior surface is considered to be posterior within the body.  

superior- towards head end or upper part of a structure

inferior- away from head end towards lower part of structure

medial- towards or at the midline of the body

lateral- away from midline

proximal-closer to the origin of bodypart

distal-away from origin of body

Anatomical planes

sagittal -perpendicular to ground

mid sagittal- cuts body into equal planes

frontal- divides the body into anterior and posterior

Transverse- divides body into superior and inferior

Depending on the type of images,location various positions are used.