Radiation Exposure in Vascular Angiographic Procedures

• Published in: Journal of vascular and interventional radiology Vol. 23; no. 11; pp. 1487 - 1495
• Main Authors: Pitton, Michael Bernhard, MD, Kloeckner, Roman, MD, Schneider, Jens, MD, Ruckes, Christian, MS, Bersch, Anton, MD, Düber, Christoph, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2012
• Subjects: Angiography, Digital Subtraction - adverse effects; Fluoroscopy; Health Personnel; Humans; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational Exposure - prevention & control; Occupational Health; Radiation Dosage; Radiation Monitoring; Radiation Protection; Radiography, Interventional - adverse effects; Radiography, Interventional - methods; Radiology; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors; DAP; IRL; percutaneous transluminal angioplasty; DSA; dose–area product; interventional reference level; digital subtraction angiography; PTA
• ISSN: 1051-0443; 1535-7732
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvir.2012.05.048

Abstract Purpose To evaluate dose reduction in vascular angiographic procedures by using fluoroscopy capture instead of digital subtraction angiography frames for documentation. Materials and Methods A total of 764 consecutive vascular interventional procedures performed over a period of 1 year were retrospectively analyzed with respect to the fluoroscopy time and the resulting dose–area product (DAP), the DAP of the radiographic frames, and the overall DAP. Results A total of 70% of the total DAP was a result of the acquisition of radiographic frames, leaving only 30% being applied by fluoroscopy. Conclusions Fluoroscopy capture should be used for documentation whenever possible. A registry of radiation exposure should not only comprise a sufficiently large number of interventions but also different intervention types to allow the development of interventional reference levels.