Which practice helps minimize patient radiation exposure effectively in fluoroscopy?

Minimizing the duration of exposure is an effective practice for reducing patient radiation exposure during fluoroscopy procedures. The principle behind this is that radiation dose is directly proportional to the time the patient is exposed to the radiation source. Therefore, by reducing the time spent in fluoroscopy, the cumulative radiation dose received by the patient is also decreased. This can be achieved by being efficient in the procedure, preparing adequately, and performing only the necessary imaging to accomplish the diagnostic goals.

In contrast, increasing fluoroscopy time or utilizing high exposure settings would lead to higher doses of radiation, increasing the patient's risk of potential radiation-related complications. Additionally, encouraging closer positioning to the source is counterproductive, as it can significantly increase the radiation dose received by the patient. It’s crucial to balance image quality with radiation safety, ensuring that the least amount of radiation is used while still achieving the required diagnostic outcome.