Short communication: staff dose reduction during coronary angiography using low framing speed

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiology
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Radiation exposure is an occupational hazard for staff in cardiac catheterization laboratories.
• Minimizing radiation dose to
• as low as reasonably achievable
• (ALARA) is a key safety principle.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of reducing cine framing rates from 25 frames per second (fps) to 12.5 fps during coronary angiography.
• To quantify the reduction in staff radiation exposure at various body sites.

Main Methods:

• 15 coronary cineangiography procedures were conducted at both 25 fps and 12.5 fps.
• Equivalent radiation dose was measured using thermoluminescent dosemeters at multiple sites for the operator, nurse assistant, and X-ray technician.
• Patient and procedure variables were kept consistent between the two frame rate groups.

Main Results:

• A significant reduction in mean equivalent dose was observed across all staff and body sites when using 12.5 fps compared to 25 fps.
• Forehead dose reductions ranged from 36% to 61%, thyroid dose reductions from 42% to 62%, and mid-thorax dose reductions from 40% to 61%.
• These reductions were consistent for the operator, nurse assistant, and X-ray technician.

Conclusions:

• Lowering cine framing rates during coronary arteriography substantially decreases X-ray dose for all laboratory staff.
• Implementing lower frame rates, where feasible, is recommended for radiation safety and may also benefit patient radiation exposure.