Ocular and the whole body radiation exposure during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the average whole body radiation exposure, which changes significantly according to during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) difficulty and to determine whether an ocular protection device must be used by analyzing applied ocular radiation.

Material and methods: Patients >18 years of age in whom an ERCP had been indicated were prospectively included in the study.

Results: A total of 1173 patients were included. Increased applied radiation dose significantly correlated with increased shot rate (Rho= 0.789, p <0.001), ERCP duration (Rho= 0.487, p <0.001), cost (Rho= 0.129, p <0.001), and LOS (Rho= 0.109, p <0.001). The whole body, skin, and eye radiation exposure doses were found to be lower than the recommended limit per year (20 mSv/year).

Conclusion: Limit of ocular radiation exposure during ERCP did not exceed the recommended annual limit (20 mSv/year), and it was also detected to be much lower than that. Therefore, the use of ocular visors is not recommended.

Keywords: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; fluoroscopy duration; radiation exposure.

Figure 1. Correlation matrix depicting association among age, shot, duration, cost, and length of stay (LOS).*p< 0.05, **p< 0.01, ***p< 0.001.

Figure 2. Eye radiation exposure through the years gone by for the operator (brown) and accompanying two nurses (red-mean value). *A maximum of 20 mSv per year is the determined limit value according to provision of laws.

Figure 3. The whole body and skin radiation exposure through the years gone by for the operator (number before forward slash sign means the month of the year). Red line delineates the mean radiation exposure of two accompanying nurses (avarage of the whole body and skin radiation). *A maximum of 20 mSv per year is the determined limit value according to provision of laws.