Final answer:
The necessity of heavy sedation or general anesthesia and positioning aids like ties or sandbags for taking skull radiographs depends on the scenario. They are more common in therapeutic settings or when the patient cannot remain still. For typical skull X-rays, these measures may not be necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks whether heavy sedation or general anesthesia (GA) and the use of positioning aids like ties or sandbags are often necessary when taking radiographs (rads) of the skull. In the context of medical imaging, there are instances when patient movement must be minimized to capture clear images. For certain procedures, including those involving radiation, such as the scenario where gamma rays from radioactive cobalt are used to target a condition in a patient's head, restricting movement is crucial for safety and accuracy.
However, heavy sedation or GA is not always required for standard skull radiographs. It is more commonly used in situations where a patient cannot remain still due to pediatric status, severe discomfort, or non-cooperation, which is more likely in a therapeutic setting such as radiation therapy rather than diagnostic radiography. Positioning aids may be used as a less invasive method to ensure the patient's head remains still during the imaging process.