Congress:
EuroSafe Imaging 2020
Keywords:
Not applicable, Education and training, Radiation safety, Education, Fluoroscopy, Cone beam CT, Radioprotection / Radiation dose, Radiation physics, Interventional vascular, Action 8 - Radiation protection training and learning material
Authors:
W. Jaschke, C. Radiation Protection Subcommittee
DOI:
10.26044/esi2020/ESI-04938
Description of activity and work performed
The RPP 2019 provided congress-goers at the 2019 CIRSE annual meeting with the opportunity to learn how to reduce and deal with critical radiation exposure of patients. Under the slogan Burning issues in radiation protection: critical dose levels and substantial radiation dose, the RPP offered a comprehensive scientific programme on radiation protection/dose management. Located at a central spot in the exhibition hall, the campaign included an open lecture area and an industry exhibition with 14 booths where visitors could explore the latest industry products for radiation protection, dose management and FGI simulation.
A total of 30 radiation safety talks were delivered by experts, covering a broad range of hot topics, such as unintended exposure, substantial radiation dose and trigger levels, the role of artificial intelligence in radiation protection and IAEA perspectives of radiation protection in fluoroscopically guided interventions. Reflecting its aforementioned slogan, several talks at the RPP also focused on dose monitoring and management, thus providing the audience with practical advice on how to protect staff and patients.
One of the presentations also clarified the terminology on “critical dose levels and substantial radiation dose”. Some of these terms were used by the US NCRP (National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements) in 2010. In 2017, the ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection) recommended the use of “trigger levels” to indicate the alert or alarm level for individual patients or individual examinations in the ICRP publication 135 on diagnostic reference levels (DRLs). One of the main purposes of the levels is to decide a clinical follow-up to detect skin effects that may require further management or prolonged follow-up.
Protective equipment for medical staff was also a topic of several radiation safety talks, offering insights regarding the correct use and relevance as well as the development of modular protective glasses, lead caps and other items. Discussions were also held regarding difficulties of the practical implementation of the European Basic Standards Safety Directive.