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Evaluation of absorbed radiation dose to working staff during cardiac catheterization procedures
1Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Insights
Cardiologists face high radiation exposure during cardiac catheterization, with the left wrist and lens receiving the highest doses. Implementing lead shielding and increasing distance can mitigate these risks for medical staff.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Cardiology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Cardiac catheterization is a common procedure for heart disease management.
- Healthcare professionals, especially cardiologists, are at high risk of radiation exposure.
- Monitoring radiation doses in catheterization labs is crucial for staff safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure and evaluate accumulated radiation doses for cardiologists during cardiac catheterization.
- To monitor the radiation levels within the catheterization laboratory environment.
Main Methods:
- Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) were used for precise dose measurements.
- TLDs were attached to cardiologists' bodies and placed in various lab locations.
- Environmental monitoring with TLDs occurred over 2-4 week periods.
Main Results:
- The left wrist and lens received the highest radiation doses per procedure.
- Unexpectedly high knee doses were linked to lead curtain radiation leakage.
- Annual effective dose for a cardiologist performing 10 procedures/week was 37 mSv, with lens dose exceeding regulatory limits.
Conclusions:
- Proper lead shielding and increased distance from the radiation source are effective dose reduction strategies.
- The area outside the catheterization room showed radiation levels similar to background radiation.
- Minimizing occupational radiation exposure is essential for protecting cardiology staff.
Background:
Cardiac catheterization has been used frequently for the evaluation and treatment of patients with heart diseases. The working staff, particularly cardiologists who perform these procedures, have the highest potential risk of receiving high radiation doses due to close contact with patients. The purpose of this study was to measure and evaluate the accumulated radiation dosage of the cardiologists while they were performing clinical procedures in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. The working environment of the catheterization laboratory was also monitored for radiation.
Methods:
Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) with very high sensitivity were employed for dose evaluations. They were taped to various parts of the body of the cardiologists during catheterization procedures. For environmental monitoring, TLDs were also distributed at several sites of the catheterization rooms for a period of 2 to 4 weeks.
Results:
The study showed that the left wrist of the cardiologists received the highest radiation dose (338 microsieverts [microSv]/procedure) and the left lens received the second highest dose (149 microSv/procedure) during the procedures. The dose to the knees was unexpectedly high (92 microSv/procedure), partly due to radiation leakage from the lead curtain shielding under the patient couch. On average, the effective radiation dose per year was 37 mSv/y for a cardiologist who performs 10 catheterization procedures per week. Compare this to the occupational exposure limit of 50 mSv/y. The estimated accumulated equivalent dose to the lens was 152 mSv/y, which exceeded the regulatory limit for occupational exposure.
Conclusions:
Using proper lead shielding and increasing the distance from the radiation source are good strategies for reducing the radiation dose in medical staff. The work area outside the catheterization room was considered safe because the radiation level was essentially equivalent to the background radiation level.