Operator Radiation and the Efficacy of Ceiling-Suspended Lead Screen Shielding during Coronary Angiography: An Anthropomorphic Phantom Study Using Real-Time Dosimeters

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 7; no. 1; p. 42077
• Main Authors: Jia, Qianjun, Chen, Ziman, Jiang, Xianxian, Zhao, Zhenjun, Huang, Meiping, Li, Jiahua, Zhuang, Jian, Liu, Xiaoqing, Hu, Tianyu, Liang, Wensheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 07.02.2017
• Subjects: Angiography; Anthropomorphism; Catheterization; Medical imaging; Mimicry; Radiation protection; Skull
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/srep42077

Operator radiation and the radiation protection efficacy of a ceiling-suspended lead screen were assessed during coronary angiography (CA) in a catheterization laboratory. An anthropomorphic phantom was placed under the X-ray beam to simulate patient attenuation in eight CA projections. Using real-time dosimeters, radiation dose rates were measured on models mimicking a primary operator (PO) and an assistant. Subsequently, a ceiling-suspended lead screen was placed in three commonly used positions to compare the radiation protection efficacy. The radiation exposure to the PO was 2.3 to 227.9 (mean: 67.2 ± 49.0) μSv/min, with the left anterior oblique (LAO) 45°/cranial 25° and cranial 25° projections causing the highest and the lowest dose rates, respectively. The assistant experienced significantly less radiation overall (mean: 20.1 ± 19.6 μSv/min, P < 0.003), with the right anterior oblique (RAO) 30° and cranial 25° projections resulting in the highest and lowest exposure levels, respectively. Combined with table-side shielding, the ceiling-suspended lead screen reduced the radiation to the PO by 76.8%, 81.9% and 93.5% when placed close to the patient phantom, at the left side and close to the PO, respectively, and reduced the radiation to the assistant by 70.3%, 76.7% and 90.0%, respectively. When placed close to the PO, a ceiling-suspended lead screen provides substantial radiation protection during CA.