title: The Survey about the Degree of Damage of Radiation-Protective Shields in Operation Room.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medical doctors who perform C-arm fluoroscopy-guided procedures are exposed to X-ray radiation. Therefore, radiation-protective shields are recommended to protect these doctors from radiation. For the past several years, these protective shields have sometimes been used without regular inspection. The aim of this study was to investigate the degree of damage to radiation-protective shields in the operating room.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study investigated 98 radiation-protective shields in the operation rooms of Konkuk University Medical Center and Jeju National University Hospital. We examined whether these shields were damaged or not with the unaided eye and by fluoroscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were seventy-one aprons and twenty-seven thyroid protectors in the two university hospitals. Fourteen aprons (19.7%) were damaged, whereas no thyroid protectors (0%) were. Of the twenty-six aprons, which have been used since 2005, eleven (42.3%) were damaged. Of the ten aprons, which have been used since 2008, none (0%) was damaged. Of the twenty-three aprons that have been used since 2009, two (8.7%) of them were damaged. Of the eight aprons used since 2010, one (12.3%) was damaged. Of the four aprons used since 2011, none (0%) of them were damaged. The most common site of damage to the radiation-protective shields was at the waist of the aprons (51%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a result, aprons that have been used for a long period of time can have a higher risk of damage. Radiation-protective shields should be inspected regularly and exchanged for new products for the safety of medical workers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Seung Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Cheol Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Suk Ju
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Eu Gene
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Hae Kyoung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: fluoroscopy; radiation exposure; radiation-protective shields