Background/Introduction
Neurointerventional procedures have the potential for greater radiation exposure compared with other radiological procedures.
While the benefits of the procedures outweigh the risks,
patient radiation exposure can cause adverse effects such as radiation burn,
cataracts and malignancy and should be kept as low as possible.
Article 56(1) of the European Union Directive 2013/59/Euratom requires that all member states ensure that radiation doses for interventional procedures are kept as low as reasonably achieveable.
Article 56(2) states that all member states must ensure the establishment,
and use...
Description of activity and work performed
Methods
A retrospective cohort study was performed at Cork University Hospital,
in Cork,
Ireland.
Radiation dose was measured using Dose Area Product (DAP) measured in mGy.cm2.
Data collection was carried out on the Picture Archiving and Communication System (Impax 6.5.3; Agfa Healthcare,
Morstel,
Belgium) and dose tracking software (DoseWatch,
GE,
Milwaukee,
WI).
Cases were excluded if dose level data was missing.
Additional variable data on aneurysm coiling procedures was provided by a prospectively gathered patient procedure database continuously maintained by a consultant neurointerventional radiologist.
Statistical...
Conclusion and Recommendations
Exposure of the patient to high levels of radiation is a serious risk when performing neurointerventional procedures.
It is the duty of the neurointerventional radiologist and team to perform the procedure to the best of their ability whilst also minimizing radiation exposure for the patient.
The results of this study show that a patient undergoing a neurointerventional procedure will be subjected tovariable radiation exposures depending on the abnormality and/or vascular location.
These results demonstrate which patient sub groups are at increased risk for higher exposure,...
Personal/Organisational information
Holly Acton,
Final Year Medical Student,
University College Cork,
Ireland
Karl James,
Radiology Specialist Registrar,
Cork University Hospital,
Ireland
Fiachra Moloney,
Radiology Fellow (MSK),
Ontario,
Canada
Noel Fanning,
Consultant Neuroradiologist,
Cork University Hospital,
Ireland
Gerald Wyse,
Consultant Neuroradiologist,
Cork University Hospital,
Ireland
Michael Maher,
Consultant Radiologist and Professor of Radiology UCC/Cork and Mercy University Hospitals,
Ireland
Owen O'Connor,
Consultant Radiologist and Senior Lecturer UCC/Cork and Mercy University Hospitals,
Ireland
References
[1] Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom of 5 December 2013 laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionizing radiation and repealing Directives 89/618/Euratom,
90/641/Euratom,
92/29/Euratom,
97/43 Euratom and 2003/122/Euratom
[2] Medical Council.
Diagnostic Reference Levels: Position Paper.
September 2004.http://www.hse.ie/eng/about/Who/qualityandpatientsafety/safepatientcare/medexpradiatonunit/Diagnostic_Reference_Levels.pdf
[3]HSE.
Template for developing a Patient Radiation Protection Manual.
August 2013.http://www.hse.ie/eng/about/Who/qualityandpatientsafety/safepatientcare/medexpradiatonunit/RP%20Manual%202013.pdf
