ChestFull access
AP and decubitus chest
AP chest: CR 3 to 4 inches below the jugular notch. Decubitus: fluid side down, air side up.
Patient and part
The AP chest is for patients who cannot stand, usually supine or semi-erect on a stretcher or in bed with a mobile unit. Sit the patient as upright as the condition allows, because erect lets the diaphragm drop, and with a horizontal beam it can show air-fluid levels. Place the receptor behind the patient, centered to the chest, with the top about 2 inches above the shoulders. Roll the shoulders forward if the patient can, and make sure the chest is not rotated on the mattress.