Background:
Invasive cardiologic procedures expose physicians and nurses/technicians to the risks of ionizing radiation. The aim of this study was to determine the exposure patterns in healthcare professionals during cardiologic procedures.
Methods:
Prospective study including patients undergoing invasive cardiologic procedures between December 2011 and August 2012 using flat-panel detector fluoroscopy. Clinical, angiographic and radiation exposure characteristics were recorded in a dedicated database. Patterns of radiation exposure were determined in patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization. The correlation between surgeon and nurse/technician dose was also evaluated.
Results:
The sample included 119 patients undergoing catheterization. The patient mean air kerma dose and dose-area product was 549 ± 220 mGy and 29,054 ± 14,696 mGy.cm2, respectively. Physicians and nurses/technicians were exposed to a mean effective dose of 0.47 ± 0.16 and 0.28 ± 0.13 mSv per exam, respectively. The correlation between physicians and nurses/technicians effective dose was 0.54 (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Physicians and nurses/technicians are exposed to low ionizing radiation doses during diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Nurses/technicians are exposed to approximately 60% of the operating physician's dose.
Cardiac catheterization; Radiation, ionizing; Radiation exposure; Radiation dosage
