Cardiac disease in pregnancy radiation exposure

Radiation
If the patient receives less than five rads, then they can be reassured a very likelihood of risk. If they received more than 15 rads, termination of the pregnancy is recommended. Routine chest x-ray is associated with radiation of 20 millirads to the chest. Standard fluoroscopy delivers 1-2 rads per minute. Cineangiography delivers 5-10 rads per minute. Only 5% of the radiation delivered is absorbed by the fetus. A lead apron should be used over the mother's pelvis. With the use of nuclear medicine procedures the radiopharmaceuticals collect in the bladder when the placenta is directly across from the fetus. The expected radiation with thallium-201 or Tc imaging is less than one rad per examination.