Purpose or learning objective
The OPRIPALC (Optimización de laProtección enRadiologíaIntervencionistaPediátrica enAméricaLatina y elCaribe) project is promoting radiation safety culture in paediatric interventional cardiology using regional (Latin American and Caribbean countries) Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs).
OPRIPALC is supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The main objectives of the project are: 1. Promote radiation safety culture in paediatric interventional fluoroscopy guided procedures (initially focussed in interventional cardiology, IC); 2. Improve radiation safety and quality of care in...
Methods or background
The collection of dosimetric data is currently done manually and centralised at the University of Tarapacá in Chile. The installed DMS (DOLQA, Dose On-Line for Quality Assurance) has been recently installed in that University, in cooperation with the San Carlos Hospital in Madrid, to help in collecting automatically and managing the data.
Paediatric cardiologists of the Region had several meetings to progress in the classification of the interventional procedures based on their complexity and impact on patient doses.
The initial data collection period has been...
Results or findings
A total of 21 hospitals from 10 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay) are currently active in the OPRIPALC project sending data to the central database. For the current sample of 968 procedures, only 70% of the received data are directly valid for the calculation of the regional DRLs. The other 30% requires interaction and additional information from the participants. In the first step, procedures are classified in diagnostic and therapeutic.
The initial attempt to collect dosimetric data...
Conclusion
The OPRIPALC project is improving the radiation safety culture in paediatric interventional cardiology in Latin America and the Caribbean countries. The collection of data on the quality control and on patient dose values, together with the webinars to discuss the advances in the programme have a positive impact on the participants. Once the preliminary DRLs will be available, several optimization actions will be recommended.
The use of the automatic dose management system and the possibility to use electronic personal dosimetry to incorporate the occupational protection...
References
UNSCEAR 2013 Report. Vol. II, Scientific Annex B: Effects of radiation exposure of children. United Nations. New York, 2013. Available at: https://www.unscear.org/docs/reports/2013/UNSCEAR2013Report_AnnexB_Children_13-87320_Ebook_web.pdf
Ubeda C, Vano E, Miranda P, Figueroa X. Organ and effective doses detriment to paediatric patients undergoing multiple interventional cardiology procedures. Phys Med. 2019; 60:182-187. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2019.03.020. Epub 2019 Apr 9. PMID: 31000081.
Ubeda C, Miranda P, Vano E, Nocetti D, Manterola C. Organ and effective doses from paediatric interventional cardiology procedures in Chile. Phys Med. 2017; 40:95-103. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2017.07.015. Epub 2017 Jul...
Personal information and conflict of interest
E. Vaño:
Nothing to disclose
C. Ubeda:
Nothing to disclose
M. d. R. Perez:
Nothing to disclose
P. Jimenez:
Nothing to disclose
P. Miranda:
Nothing to disclose
A. Nader:
Nothing to disclose
R. Ramirez:
Nothing to disclose
