Get Protected! Recommendations for Staff in IR

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiology
• Occupational Health

Background:

• European legislation mandates patient and staff dose evaluation and registration.
• International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) occupational dose limits are widely adopted globally.
• Interventional radiology plays a crucial role, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current practices and advancements in occupational radiation protection for staff in interventional radiology.
• To provide guidance on selecting appropriate radiation protection tools and implementing effective measures.
• To address the evolving landscape of radiation safety in medical procedures.

Main Methods:

• Review of documents and guidelines from international organizations and interventional radiology societies.
• Analysis of common protective measures and quality control requirements.
• Examination of advancements in radiation protection, including simulation, robotics, and AI.

Main Results:

• Summarizes common protective measures, quality control, and selection criteria for protection devices.
• Discusses strategies to avoid unnecessary occupational radiation exposure.
• Highlights advancements in personnel radiation protection, including virtual/augmented reality, robotics, and AI.
• Includes a section on personnel radiation protection during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusions:

• Key factors for selecting radiation protection tools are identified.
• Practical advice is provided for enhancing staff radiation protection.
• The importance of balancing dose reduction with clinical outcomes is stressed.