Radiation exposure levels according to vascular access sites during PCI : A prospective controlled study

We previously showed that using the radial artery access site as opposed to the femoral artery site decreases the radiation exposure of patients during coronary artery interventions. The objective of this study was to compare radiation exposure levels of the operating physician during coronary interventions when incorporating both radial and femoral artery approaches.

The study assessed all coronary angioplasties performed in a major metropolitan general hospital. The study design was prospective and observational, in which we measured the radiation exposure of the patient and the operator. Measurements of radiation levels were made using an electronic personal dosimeter (Diamentor® E2-DAP) at the radial and at the femoral artery access sites. An interventional cardiologist operator performed all the percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) using a single-plane angiography unit via both femoral and radial artery approaches.

Data from 252 PCIs were recorded. The mean physician radiation exposure levels from the femoral access site and the right radial access site were 40.5 ± 20.2 µSv and 47.5 ± 26.5 µSv, respectively (p < 0.02). There was a strong correlation between physician and patient radiation exposure levels. However, there was no correlation between patient body mass index and radiation exposure levels.

We found significantly higher physician radiation exposure levels with the radial artery than with the femoral artery access site.