What materials are needed to prepare for a bedside Computed Tomography (CT) scan?

Materials Needed to Prepare for a Bedside CT Scan

For a bedside CT scan, you need proper infection control equipment, patient positioning aids, contrast media supplies if indicated, and appropriate monitoring equipment to ensure patient safety and image quality.

Essential Equipment and Materials

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Gloves (must be worn when handling contaminated equipment) 1
• Long-sleeved gowns (required when working with suspected/confirmed infectious patients) 1
• Appropriate masks:
  • Surgical/medical masks for standard procedures
  • N95/FFP2/FFP3 masks for aerosol-generating procedures 1

Patient Preparation Materials

• Single-use CT couch paper cover 1
• Disposable plastic covers for:
  • Image receptors/detectors 1
  • Contrast media injector control panel 1
• Patient positioning aids:
  • Support devices for arms and knees to improve position reproducibility 1
  • Foam pallets for proper arm positioning 1

Contrast Media Supplies (if indicated)

• Iodine-based contrast agent (55-100 mL, concentration 300-400 mg/mL) 1, 2
• IV administration set with injection rate capability of 2-3 mL/s 1
• Sterile components for contrast administration 2
• Documentation of patient's:
  • Kidney function/glomerular filtration rate 1
  • History of contrast allergy 1
  • Blood glucose level (if using [18F]FDG for PET/CT) 1

Room Setup

• Consider implementing a containment zipper (room isolation tarp barrier) to separate control area from CT scanner room 1
• Designate clean vs. contaminated zones within the scanning area 1
• Ensure proper ventilation in the scanning room 1

Procedural Considerations

Infection Control

• Designate CT gantry controls and contrast injector screen keys as "contaminated" (must be used with gloves) 1
• Designate console keyboard, mouse, exposure pad, and contrast injector remote control panel as "clean" (used without gloves) 1
• Establish clear separation between clean console area and contaminated CT room area 1

Patient Monitoring

• Equipment to document which personnel are involved in the procedure 1
• Materials to mark reference points on the patient (ink or tattoo marks) for reproducible positioning 1

Special Considerations

• For patients with claustrophobia: Premedication may be needed but regular use of sedatives is not generally recommended 1, 3
• For patients with mobility issues: Analgesics may be required to relieve discomfort 1

Common Pitfalls and Caveats

1. Infection Control Failures: Always maintain strict separation between clean and contaminated zones. Remember to remove gloves and wash hands before entering the console area 1.

2. Inadequate Coverage: Ensure the entire region of interest is included in the field of view. For chest CT, extend caudally to at least L3 to ensure coverage of the posterior costophrenic sulcus 1.

3. Contrast Administration Errors: Use sterile technique for all intravascular injections. The contrast should be at body temperature when injected 2.

4. Positioning Errors: Poor positioning can lead to artifacts. Use support devices for arms and knees to improve position reproducibility and patient comfort 1.

5. Metallic Artifacts: Remove all metallic objects from the region of interest carefully to avoid image artifacts 1, 3.

By ensuring all these materials are prepared before the bedside CT scan, you can optimize workflow efficiency, minimize infection risk, and maximize image quality for accurate diagnosis.