What is one important protective measure against radiation exposure during fluoroscopy?

Maintaining proper source-to-table distance is a crucial protective measure against radiation exposure during fluoroscopy. This practice involves ensuring that the radiation source (the fluoroscopy tube) is positioned at an optimal distance from the patient's table, thus minimizing the radiation dose to both the patient and the healthcare professionals involved in the procedure.

The reason this measure is effective lies in the inverse square law, which states that the intensity of radiation decreases with the square of the distance from the source. By increasing the distance between the radiation source and the area of interest, the exposure is significantly reduced, which is particularly important in procedures that might involve longer exposure times.

In contrast, increasing exposure time can actually lead to higher doses of radiation without providing any benefits. Using lead aprons is certainly a part of radiation protection, but relying exclusively on them without considering source distance does not provide comprehensive protection. Positioning the patient incorrectly would not only increase radiation exposure but could also compromise the diagnostic quality of the procedure. Therefore, maintaining proper source-to-table distance is essential for effective radiation safety in fluoroscopy.