Porcine small intestinal submucosa biomaterial graft for repair of a congenital pleuroperitoneal hernia in a kitten.

In this case, porcine small intestinal submucosa (pSIS) was used to repair a large congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a kitten. The pSIS was moistened in saline, folded in half, and sutured to the remnant of the right hemidiaphragm. The animal was determined to be doing well clinically and radiographically 12 wk after procedure.

X-ray tube operators can be exposed to equal or higher scattered radiation doses to the hand as cassette holders during diagnostic radiographic procedures of the equine vertebral column and limbs.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to investigate scattered radiation doses to the hands of equine workers holding the cassette and the x-ray tube by hand, for both limb and vertebral column studies, and to compare the scattered radiation attenuation of lead with radiation protection lead-free gloves. Radiation doses to the hands of the cassette holder in the primary beam were also investigated.

Sample: A whole-body horse cadaver.

Survey of self-reported radiation safety practices among North American veterinary technicians involved in equine radiography using portable x-ray equipment.

Objectives: To describe self-reported radiation safety practices by equine veterinary technicians in North America and identify factors associated with these practices.

Sample: 154 equine technicians.

Procedures: An electronic questionnaire regarding radiation safety practices during the use of portable x-ray equipment was sent to 884 members of the American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians and Assistants.

A 7-min video training intervention improves worker short-term radiation safety behavior during small animal diagnostic radiography.

Although manual restraint for small animal diagnostic radiography is common, worker protection is often not optimized, particularly for hands and eyes. Radiation safety training videos generally include hours of material on content other than personal protective equipment (PPE), have limited content, if any, on reducing dose to the lens of the eye, and are presented at the level of veterinary professionals. The objectives of this prospective, observational study were to develop a short, open access video training intervention at the layperson level, focused on proper use of PPE, and to test the effectiveness of the training video in changing behavior of workers.