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Diminishing Exposure to Doppler Ultrasound

The Sonographer's Role

Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510.

Frederick W. Kremkau, PhD

The Center for Medical Ultrasound, The Bowman Gray School of Medicine, 300 South Hawthorne Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.

Diagnostic ultrasound has an unblemished record for safety. The introduction of pulsed Doppler may involve higher intensities exceeding 1 W/cm² (SPTA). These intensities must cause concern for fetal exposure, and the FDA has introduced strict guidelines to limit such exposure. Presented here are practical ways in which sonography can minimize exposure. These include the use of Doppler only when clinically indicated or part of an approved research protocol, knowledge of the emitted intensity, and how to attenuate this to prudent levels. It is desirable to use sensitive equipment and increase the TGC before increasing power. Such prudent use will allow ultrasound to be used in these new applications without hazard.

Key Words: ultrasound Doppler studies • biological effects • fetal ultrasound studies

Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Vol. 4, No. 1, 5-8 (1988)
DOI: 10.1177/875647938800400103


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