RADIATION DOSES TO ANAESTHETISTS DURING PROSTATIC ARTERY EMBOLIZATION INTERVENTIONAL PROCEDURES

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Interventional Radiology
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Prostatic artery embolization (PAE) is an increasingly common interventional radiology procedure.
• Anaesthetists play a crucial role during PAE but their radiation exposure is not well-characterized.
• Occupational radiation safety is paramount in minimizing risks to healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the radiation doses received by anaesthetists during PAE procedures.
• To identify body parts most exposed to radiation for anaesthetists during PAE.
• To evaluate the risk of exceeding dose limits for anaesthetists performing PAE.

Main Methods:

• Ten prostatic artery embolization procedures were monitored in Recife, Brazil.
• Thermoluminescent dosemeters were used to measure radiation doses at multiple body locations (eyes, thyroid, thorax, wrist, feet).
• Personal dose equivalent Hp(3) was calculated for the anaesthetist's eyebrow.

Main Results:

• Anaesthetists' feet received the highest radiation doses, followed by eyes and hands.
• In complex PAE cases, anaesthetists' eye and effective doses sometimes exceeded those of the primary operator.
• Doses to the anaesthetist's right eyebrow ranged from 20.2 μSv to 568.3 μSv per procedure.

Conclusions:

• Anaesthetists are at risk of exceeding annual eye lens dose limits (20 mSv) during PAE procedures.
• Close proximity to the patient table and oblique projections increase anaesthetist radiation exposure.
• Implementing radiation protection measures is essential for anaesthetists during PAE.