title: Occupational Radiation Exposure during Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography and Usefulness of Radiation Protective Curtains.
abstract: Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of radiation protective curtains in reducing the occupational radiation exposure of medical personnel. Methods. We studied medical staff members who had assisted in 80 consecutive therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures. Use of radiation protective curtains mounted to the X-ray tube was determined randomly for each procedure, and radiation doses were measured with electronic pocket dosimeters placed outside the protective apron. Results. When protective curtains were not used, the mean radiation doses to endoscopists, first assistants, second assistants, and nurses were 340.9, 27.5, 45.3, and 33.1 µSv, respectively; doses decreased to 42.6, 4.2, 13.1, and 10.6 µSv, respectively, when protective curtains were used (P < 0.01). When the patient had to be restrained during ERCP (n = 8), the radiation dose to second assistants without protective curtains increased by a factor of 9.95 (P < 0.01) relative to cases in which restraint was not required. Conclusions. During ERCP, not only endoscopists, but also assistants and nurses were exposed to high doses of radiation. Radiation exposure to staff members during ERCP was reduced with the use of protective curtains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Tamito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Michihiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamigaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yukutake
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishigaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Teruo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mouri
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshimi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Akinori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomofumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuboi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurihara
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tatsukawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Eisuke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miyaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chayama