title: Evaluation of the impact of a system for real-time visualisation of occupational radiation dose rate during fluoroscopically guided procedures.
abstract: Optimisation of radiological protection for operators working with fluoroscopically guided procedures has to be performed during the procedure, under varying and difficult conditions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of a system for real-time visualisation of radiation dose rate on optimisation of occupational radiological protection in fluoroscopically guided procedures. Individual radiation dose measurements, using a system for real-time visualisation, were performed in a cardiology laboratory for three cardiologists and ten assisting nurses. Radiation doses collected when the radiation dose rates were not displayed to the staff were compared to radiation doses collected when the radiation dose rates were displayed. When the radiation dose rates were displayed to the staff, one cardiologist and the assisting nurses (as a group) significantly reduced their personal radiation doses. The median radiation dose (Hp(10)) per procedure decreased from 68 to 28 μSv (p = 0.003) for this cardiologist and from 4.3 to 2.5 μSv (p = 0.001) for the assisting nurses. The results of the present study indicate that a system for real-time visualisation of radiation dose rate may have a positive impact on optimisation of occupational radiological protection. In particular, this may affect the behaviour of staff members practising inadequate personal radiological protection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden. viktor.sandblom@vgregion.se
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sandblom
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Almén
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rystedt
authors.forename: Å
authors.initials: Å
authors.lastname: Cederblad
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Båth
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lundh
mesh_terms: D002309:Cardiology; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011835:Radiation Protection