Radiation exposure to cardiologists performing interventional cardiology procedures

• Published in: European journal of radiology 2003-12, Vol.48 (3), p.268-273
• Main Authors: Delichas, Miltiadis, Psarrakos, Kyriakos, Molyvda-Athanassopoulou, Elisabeth, Giannoglou, Georgios, Sioundas, Anastasios, Hatziioannou, Konstantinos, Papanastassiou, Emmanouil
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary - statistics & numerical data; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology - statistics & numerical data; Cineradiography - statistics & numerical data; Coronary Angiography - statistics & numerical data; Dose area product; Effective dose; Female; Fluoroscopy - statistics & numerical data; General aspects; Greece; Humans; Interventional cardiology; Male; Medical sciences; Medical Staff, Hospital; Middle Aged; Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Patients - statistics & numerical data; Planification. Prevention (methods). Intervention. Evaluation; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Radiation Dosage; Radiation exposure; Radiography, Interventional - methods; Radiography, Interventional - statistics & numerical data; Thermoluminescent Dosimetry - statistics & numerical data; Whole-Body Irradiation
• ISSN: 0720-048X; 1872-7727
• DOI: 10.1016/S0720-048X(03)00007-X

Medical doctors, who practice interventional cardiology, receive a noticeable radiation dose. In this study, we measured the radiation dose to 9 cardiologists during 144 procedures (72 coronary angiographies and 70 percutaneus translumined coronary angioplasties) in two Greek hospitals. Absorbed doses were measured with TLD placed underneath and over the lead apron at the thyroid protective collar. Based on these measurements, the effective dose was calculated using the Niklason method. In addition, dose area product (DAP) was registered. The effective doses, E, were normalised to the total DAP measured in each procedure, producing the E/DAP index. The mean effective dose values were found to be in the range of 1.2–2.7 μSv while the mean E/DAP values are in the range of 0.010–0.035 μSv/Gy cm 2. The dependence of dose to the X-ray equipment, the exposure parameters and the technique of the cardiologist were examined. Taking under consideration the laboratories’ annual workload, the maximum annual dose was estimated to be 1.9 and 2.8 mSv in the two hospitals.