Exposure to ionizing radiation of medical staff performing vascular and interventional radiology procedures

Abstract

Objectives: Vascular and interventional radiology procedures are characterized by high exposure of personnel to ionizing radiation. This study assessed the exposure of medical personnel to ionizing radiation during vascular radiology and mechanical thrombectomy procedures.

Material and methods: During vascular radiology procedures, the exposure of 4 groups of workers participating in the procedures was analyzed, i.e., the main operating physician, an assistant physician, a sterile nurse, and a nurse. Measurements of exposure to ionizing radiation were performed using thermoluminescent dosimetry.

Results: The registered effective dose during 1 treatment in individual groups is, respectively: mean (M) ± standard deviation (SD) 75±15 μSv, 24±5 μSv, 13±3 μSv, and 8±2 μSv. During mechanical thrombectomy, the operating physician receives an effective dose of M±SD 9±2 μSv. The equivalent doses for the lenses for the operating physician and the doctor assisting during vascular radiology procedures are M±SD 1419±285 μSv and 987±198 μSv, respectively, and for the hands, including the left and right hands, M±SD 4605±930 μSv, 1420±284 μSv, 1898±380 μSv, 1371±274 μSv.

Conclusions: If the principles of optimizing radiological protection are not applied during vascular radiology procedures, the permissible dose limits and operational limits equivalent to doses to lenses and hands may be exceeded. Exposure during vascular radiology procedures is comparable to exposure during nuclear medicine procedures in terms of the use of glucose labeled with radioactive fluorine. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(4):403-10.

Keywords: effective dose; interventional radiology; leukemia; probability of induction of leukemia; radiological protection; vascular radiology.