title: Radiation risk to the urologist during endourologic procedures, and a new shield that reduces exposure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  With the increasing use of endourologic procedures to diagnose and treat urologic problems, the urologist's exposure to radiation from fluoroscopy becomes an important safety consideration. Although collimation of the x-ray beam generally prevents direct radiation exposure by the urologist, the patient absorbs radiation during the procedure and becomes a secondary source of exposure through radiation scatter.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured radiation exposure to the urologist during endourologic procedures using standard body shields and thyroid collars. We repeated our surveys using a newly designed urologic surgery radiation shield.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found dose rates to the urologist of up to 1100 mrem per hour of flouroscopy time. The maximum yearly whole-body exposure as recommended by the National Council on Radiation Protection is 5000 mrem, or 5 rem.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urologists should be cognizant of this radiation risk, and the concepts of time, distance, and shielding are critically important to know in efforts to reduce radiation exposure. We introduce a newly designed fluoroscopic drape which reduces the radiation dosage to the urologist from scatter nearly 70-fold. We found this shield to be very practical and easy to use, and we offer it as an effective safeguard against secondary radiation exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery (Urology), Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Giblin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rubenstein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pahira
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014572:Urology