Purpose
Occupational radiation doses in fluoroscopy guided (FG) procedures are the highest in the medical sector [1], varying among procedures, facilities and physicians [2-4].The eyes of the physicians are mostly exposed to radiation. As Vano et al. demonstrated, the scattered radiation doses to the eye lens of the interventional radiologist in typical working conditions can exceed 10 mSv/h in high-dose fluoroscopy modes and 50 mSv/h during image acquisition in cardiology laboratories when radiation protection tools are not used [5]. The current literature demonstrates wide variations (up...
Methods and Materials
Methodology developed by the IAEA for its RELID (Retrospective Evaluation of Lens Injuries and Dose) project [20] was used.Every participant in the study signed an informed consent form, describing:The purpose of the studyThe study procedureThe study risksThe study benefitsConfidentiality statement andPrinciple of voluntary participation. Every participant filled in a detailed questionnaire having information on:Profession and personal demographic dataModels of the X-ray systems used in the past and at presentShort description of the work inside the interventional room, location in the room and percentage of time...
Results
The distribution of the participants in the study by occupation and gender is presented in Table 1. The age of participants varied between 26 and 64 years and the experience of work in interventional cardiology – between 1 and 25 years.Table 1. Distribution of participants in the study by occupation and gender Occupation Phase 1 (July 2009) Phase 2 (October 2009 Interventional cardiologist 4 (4 men and 0 women) 14 (9 men and 5 women) Nurse in interventional cardiology 16 (1 men and 15 women)...
Conclusion
Posterior subcapsular lens changes consistent with X-ray exposure were found in almost 22% for the cardiologist and 42% for the paramedical staff, against only 8% for a control group.Higher frequency of eye opacities in nurses was found compared to other studies. This can be associated with the work 20% of time on the left side of the patient without eye protection.Nurses are advised to use eye protection glasses, especially in departments with high workload and when radial access is frequently used. Work on the left...
References
International Commission on Radiological Protection. Radiological Protection in Medicine, ICRP Publication 105. Ann. ICRP 2007; 37(6). Elsevier, New York).International Commission on Radiological Protection. Avoidance of Radiation Injuries from Medical Interventional Procedures, ICRP Publication 85, Ann. ICRP 2000; 30(2). Elsevier, New York.Vano E, Gonzalez L, Guibelalde E, Fernandez, JM, Ten JI. Radiation exposure to medical staff in interventional and cardiac radiology. Br J Radiol 1998; 71:954–960.Kim K., Miller D. Minimising radiation exposure to physicians performing fluoroscopically guided cardiac catheterisation procedures: a review. Radiat Prot Dosimetry, February...
Personal Information
Vassileva Jenia, PhD. Department of Radiation Protection at Medical ExposureNational Centre of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection3 Georgi Sofiiski str,Sofia, Bulgaria E-mail:
[email protected]
