Acceptance testing and QA of interventional cardiology systems

Abstract

Interventional cardiology (IC) is a rapidly growing field of medical specialisation. Such procedures are complex and may subject patients and operators to higher levels of risk than those encountered in general radiology. Acceptance testing and quality assurance (QA) of radiological equipment, including IC equipment, is a requirement of the EU Medical Exposures Directive (MED) (97/43/EURATOM). In addition, the MED identifies interventional radiology as an area of special concern. This study presents the results of a survey of 17 IC systems (including several flat panel detector systems) in Irish hospitals. The results of the survey indicate large differences in patient doses between manufacturers for equivalent levels of measured image quality. In addition, all systems were found to have failed one or more acceptance tests, with 60% of systems demonstrating significant problems at acceptance testing. The results of the survey demonstrate the importance of acceptance testing and QA in IC. The results also provide baseline data, which may be used in the development of future QA guidelines.

Patient doses in paediatric interventional cardiology: impact of 3D rotational angiography

“…The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) indicated that one of the main sources of artificial radiation to the world population is interventional cardiology (IC) (UNSCEAR 2008(UNSCEAR , 2013. Such procedures are complex and may involve prolonged irradiation, subjecting patients and operators to higher radiation doses than those encountered in general radiology (Dowling et al 2008). Particular attention should be paid to the radiation doses received by paediatric patients as they are more sensitive to radiation (Bacher et al 2005).…”

Radiation Dose Assessment of the Fog Lead Acrylic Shields during Coronary Angiography: A Phantom Study

“…The dosimeters used in this experiment were the nanoDot optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dosimeters and InLight TM MicroStar reader manufactured by Landauer, Inc., USA (Glenwood, IL, USA). The nanoDot OSL dosimeter was made of 5 mm diameter and 0.2 mm-thick plastic disks infused with Al 2 O 3 :C. The disks are encased in 10 × 10 × 2 mm 3 light-tight plastic holders with a density of 1.03 g/cm 3 . Prior to the radiation dose measurements, the OSLDs were calibrated to minimize measurement errors.…”

“…2 mm 3 light-tight plastic holders with a density of 1.03 g/cm 3 . Prior to the radiation dose measurements, the OSLDs were calibrated to minimize measurement errors.…”

“…As PCI is a form of microsurgery, it holds distinct advantages over coronary angiography. However, owing to the growing number of cardiac catheter devices and the increasing complexity of surgical procedures, cardiologists have been subjected to increasingly high radiation doses compared with ordinary radiologists [3]. Furthermore, a clinical examination can be prolonged owing to variations in patient condition, which could lead to high radiation doses in the lenses of the operators' eyes [4].…”

Evaluación de dosis en pacientes sometidos a procedimientos de angiografía y angioplastía coronaria transluminal percutanea

“…59 de la OIEA (IAEA, 2008) los valores recopilados de tasa de kerma en la superficie de un paciente estándar de 20 cm de PMMA son los siguientes: para modos de fluoroscopia bajos entre 10 -28 mGy/min, medios entre 10 -52 mGy/min y altos entre 32 -120 mGy/min. Además, Dowling (Dowling et al, 2008) obtiene valores entre 3 y 25 mGy/min en equipos de cardiología intervencionista. Haciendo un comparación con los valores de tasa de kerma en la superficie del paciente (20 cm de espesor) determinados en este estudio, los modos de fluoroscopia se encuentran en un rango de 5 a 23 mGy/min sin magnificación y en un rango de 9 a 56 mGy/min cuando se utiliza una magnificación de 22 cm.…”