[Evaluation of radiological risk associated to pieloureteral surgery in paediatric patients]

Because of the application of ionising radiation in surgical procedures, it is necessary to perform an evaluation of the radiological risks. Potential hazards are of greater influence in paediatric patients, due to their longer life expectancy and greater radiosensibility. The aim of this paper was, with the exception of deterministic injuries, trying to evaluate patient doses and stochastic risks induced by ionising radiations in paediatric pieloureteral surgery.

Twenty paediatric patients of both sexes, from 2 months to 9 years, were included in the study. All the procedures were performed in 2006 and 2007. The X-Ray equipment shows fluoroscopy time and dose area product in each procedure, thermoluminiscent dosimeters (TLD's) measure patient's skin dose and non screen films verify the radiated field and dose.

The average effective dose per minute was 0.36 mSv for patients under 5-year-old and 0.43 mSv for over 5. These figures were lower than previously published results for this kind of surgery. The average total risk of fatal cancer induction in any location, for each study group, was 0.012%. Maximum skin dose was 19.81 mGy, which is well bellow the threshold for deterministic injuries (2 Gy).

Although stochastic risks were small, it's highly recommended to employ all the available methods and techniques developed for patient radiological protection. A strong coordination between team members is advisable for improving the dose optimization.