Staff Radiation Doses in Interventional Cardiology: Correlation With Patient Exposure

Abstract

In pediatric interventional cardiology, cardiologists need to stay closer to the patient than during adult catheterization, and the use of biplane systems increases the scatter radiation. Occupational radiation risk is rather high, and estimation of lens doses becomes necessary. Deriving factors for assessing these doses from the patient doses displayed in catheterization laboratories can help in preserving staff radiation safety. A biplane X-ray system and polymethylmethacrylate plates of 4 to 20 cm to simulate pediatric patients have been used. Patient entrance dose rates, dose-area product, and doses to the eyes of the cardiologists for the typical operation modes have been measured. Correlations between patient and staff doses have been obtained. Scatter dose rates increase by a factor of 92 from low fluoroscopy to cine acquisition when phantom thickness increases from 4 to 20 cm. Scatter doses increase linearly with dose-area product for all the thicknesses. Administration of 1 Gy x cm(2) to the patient involves 7 microSv to the eyes of the cardiologist (without extra protection). In conclusion, the experimental correlation factors found between phantom and scatter doses allow a fairly good estimation of staff doses from the dosimetric patient data.

Effective Use of Radiation Shields to Minimize Operator Dose During Invasive Cardiology Procedures

“…Others have shown that scatter dose rate is proportional to patient skin dose rate (7). Because the shape of the phantom does not accurately reflect that of a real patient (let alone a range of patients), the magnitude of the scatter measurements cannot be considered to accurately reflect clinical practice.…”

“…To help minimize radiation dose, all persons working in interventional x-ray rooms are required to wear lead-equivalent radiation protection garments. Although these garments are effective at stopping radiation, a person's arms, head, and neck (without protective collar) are generally unprotected (5)(6)(7)(8).…”

Impacto do peso corporal dos pacientes na exposição radiológica durante procedimentos cardiológicos invasivos

“…Nevertheless, continuing exposure and higher doses can promote a higher risk that may still be unknown. 26,27 Limitations of the study The present study had several limitations that must be considered. This analysis was conducted in only one centre with a small patient sample.…”

Irradiation du personnel en neuroradiologie interventionnelle pédiatrique : focus sur le cristallin de l’opérateur

“…De plus, seuls 31 % 164 C. Bolomey et al : Radioprotection 51(3), 163-170 (2016) des opérateurs en radiologie interventionnelle portent systéma-tiquement des lunettes de protection (Vanhavere et al, 2012). En radiologie interventionnelle pédiatrique, l'exposition de l'opérateur peut être d'autant plus conséquente du fait de l'utilisation fréquente d'un système de radioscopie biplan et de la plus grande proximité du médecin avec le patient (Vaño et al, 2009).…”