Radiology & Imaging Journal
Open AccessRetrospective Study of Radiation Exposures during Interventional Cardiology Procedures Performed at the University Cardiovascular Center of Uruguay
Authors: Mila R, Hernández F, Cordon JJ, Durán A, Martínez-López W.
Abstract
The number of interventional cardiology procedures has increased rapidly over the last decades. Fluoroscopic X-ray procedures, such as coronary angiography and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, are considered the largest source of medical occupational exposure, either for patients or operators, causing deleterious health effects. In this respect, several modifications in classical interventional cardiology procedures, as well as the incorporation of radiation protection protocols for reducing radiation exposure, have been developed. To adequately know the success in the application of these changes, the reference values of radiation exposure for different interventional cardiology procedures should be established. For this purpose, a retrospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study was carried out at the University Cardiovascular Center from the Faculty of Medicine (University of the Republic) of Uruguay between 2018 and 2020, to know the frequency of procedures performed as well as the average of delivered radiation dose, the fluoroscopy time and the Kerma-area product for every interventional procedure. The most frequent interventional procedure performed was the urgent angioplasty procedure, which resulted in the highest exposure level of occupational radiation for both workers and patients. It was established for the first time in Uruguay reference levels for the three most frequent interventional cardiology procedures using the third quartile of radiation exposure parameters employed (Total dose delivered, Kerma-area product and fluoroscopy time). The reference values obtained were in agreement with those found at the international level.
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