title: Level of patient and operator dose in the largest cardiac centre in Greece.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the patient and staff doses in the most frequent interventional cardiology (IC) procedures performed in Onassio, the largest Cardiac Centre in Greece. Data were collected from three digital X-ray systems for 212 coronary angiographies, 203 percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasties (PTCA) and 134 various electrophysiological studies. Patient skin dose was measured using suitably calibrated slow radiotherapy films and cardiologist dose using suitably calibrated thermoluminescent dosemeters placed on left arm, hand and foot. Patient median dose area product (DAP) (all examinations) ranged between 6.7 and 83.5 Gy cm2. Patient median skin dose in PTCA was 799 mGy (320-1660 mGy) and in RF ablation 160 mGy (35-1920 mGy). Median arm, hand and foot dose to the cardiologist were 12.6, 27 and 13 microSv, respectively, per procedure. The great range of radiation doses received by both patients and operators confirms the need for continuous monitoring of all IC techniques.
authors.affiliation: Konstantopoulio Agia Olga Hospital, 3-5 Agias Olgas Street, Nea Ionia, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tsapaki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patsilinakos
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Voudris
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magginas
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pavlidis
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maounis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Theodorakis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koutelou
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vrantza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nearchou
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nikolaki
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kollaros
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kyrozi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kottou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karaiskos
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Neofotistou
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cokkinos
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002309:Cardiology / Q000592:standards*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D011786:Quality Control; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry