TYPICAL VALUES OF DOSIMETRIC DATA FOR CARDIAC FLUOROSCOPY-GUIDED PROCEDURES IN A SOUTH AFRICAN TEACHING HOSPITAL

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Limited diagnostic reference level (DRL) data exists for cardiac fluoroscopy-guided procedures (FGPs) within the South African public sector.
• Establishing DRLs is vital for optimizing radiation dose management and patient safety in medical imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine typical dosimetric values for common cardiac FGPs in a South African public sector teaching hospital.
• To provide a foundational dataset for future radiation protection initiatives and DRL establishment in the region.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of dosimetric data from 6265 patients undergoing cardiac FGPs over four years.
• Calculation of Kerma-area-product (KAP), reference point air Kerma (Ka,r), and fluoroscopy time (FT) for seven distinct procedures.

Main Results:

• The study presents the largest dataset of SA public sector cardiac FGP dosimetric data to date.
• Typical values for KAP, Ka,r, and FT were determined for procedures including coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention, and pacemaker implantation.
• Significant variations in dose metrics were observed across different cardiac FGPs.

Conclusions:

• This research provides essential reference data for radiation dose assessment in South African public healthcare.
• The findings serve as a critical resource for implementing and refining DRLs for cardiac FGPs, promoting radiation safety.