Radiation exposure in emergency ureteric stenting: A subgroup analysis by operator

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Radiology
• Medical Physics

Background:

• Emergency ureteric stent insertion is crucial for managing urolithiasis.
• Intra-operative fluoroscopy is commonly used, leading to radiation exposure for patients and staff.
• Operator experience and patient/stone characteristics may influence radiation dose.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate radiation exposure during emergency ureteric stent insertion.
• To determine if operator experience (consultant vs. registrar) impacts radiation dose.
• To assess the influence of stone characteristics on radiation exposure.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective audit of 410 patients undergoing emergency ureteric stent insertion over 10 years.
• Data collected included operator experience, radiation exposure (mGy), dose area product (Gy/cm²), fluoroscopy time, stone characteristics, and patient BMI.
• Statistical analysis performed using IBM SPSS Version 28, with p < 0.05 considered significant.

Main Results:

• Median radiation exposure was 12.6 mGy and 2.94 Gy/cm², with a median fluoroscopy time of 44.5 seconds.
• No significant difference in radiation exposure was found between consultants and registrars.
• No significant association between radiation exposure and stone location, gender, size, laterality, or specialty registrar (urology vs. general surgery).

Conclusions:

• Operator experience does not significantly affect radiation exposure during emergency ureteric stent insertion.
• Radiation safety education and personal dosimeters are recommended for healthcare professionals using intra-operative fluoroscopy.
• Further research may explore standardized protocols to minimize radiation exposure.