What is the approximate patient radiation exposure for a fluoroscopic examination lasting 6 minutes with an exposure rate of 4.5 mGy/hr?

To determine the patient radiation exposure during a fluoroscopic examination, you can use the formula for calculating radiation dose, which is the exposure rate multiplied by the duration of the examination.

In this case, the exposure rate is 4.5 mGy/hr, and the duration of the exam is 6 minutes. First, you need to convert the time from minutes to hours to match the units of the exposure rate. Since there are 60 minutes in an hour, 6 minutes is equivalent to 0.1 hours (6 minutes ÷ 60 minutes/hour = 0.1 hours).

Now, multiply the exposure rate by the duration:

4.5 mGy/hr × 0.1 hr = 0.45 mGy.

This calculation results in an approximate patient radiation exposure of 0.45 mGy for the fluoroscopic examination. Therefore, the correct choice accurately reflects the radiation dose calculated based on the provided exposure rate and examination time. Understanding this calculation highlights the importance of awareness regarding the exposure rates during fluoroscopic procedures and the need for limiting duration to minimize patient exposure when possible.