title: The Effect of Realtime Monitoring on Dose Exposure to Staff Within an Interventional Radiology Setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to evaluate a new device providing real-time monitoring on radiation exposure during fluoroscopy procedures intending to reduce radiation in an interventional radiology setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  In one interventional suite, a new system providing a real-time radiation dose display and five individual wireless dosimeters were installed. The five dosimeters were worn by the attending, fellow, nurse, technician, and anesthesiologist for every procedure taking place in that suite. During the first 6-week interval the dose display was off (closed phase) and activated thereafter, for a 6-week learning phase (learning phase) and a 10-week open phase (open phase). During these phases, the staff dose and the individual dose for each procedure were recorded from the wireless dosimeter and correlated with the fluoroscopy time. Further subanalysis for dose exposure included diagnostic versus interventional as well as short (<10 min) versus long (>10 min) procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 252 procedures were performed (n = 88 closed phase, n = 50 learning phase, n = 114 open phase). The overall mean staff dose per fluoroscopic minute was 42.79 versus 19.81 µSv/min (p < 0.05) comparing the closed and open phase. Thereby, anesthesiologists were the only individuals attaining a significant dose reduction during open phase 16.9 versus 8.86 µSv/min (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a significant reduction of total staff dose was observed for short 51 % and interventional procedures 45 % (p < 0.05, for both).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A real-time qualitative display of radiation exposure may reduce team radiation dose. The process may take a few weeks during the learning phase but appears sustained, thereafter.
authors: Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute (MCVI), Baptist Hospital of Miami, 8900 North Kendall Drive, Miami, FL, 33176, USA. fredericbaumann@hotmail.com.
authors: Frederic
authors: F
authors: Baumann
authors: Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute (MCVI), Baptist Hospital of Miami, 8900 North Kendall Drive, Miami, FL, 33176, USA.
authors: Barry T
authors: BT
authors: Katzen
authors: Clinical Science Interventional X-ray, Philips HealthCare, P.O. Box 10.000, 5680 DA, Best, The Netherlands.
authors: Bart
authors: B
authors: Carelsen
authors: Clinical and Interventional Angiology, Kantonsspital Aarau, Tellstrasse, 5001, Aarau, Switzerland.|University of Applied Sciences Furtwangen, Robert-Gerwig-Platz 1, 78120, Furtwangen, Germany.
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Diehm
authors: Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute (MCVI), Baptist Hospital of Miami, 8900 North Kendall Drive, Miami, FL, 33176, USA.
authors: James F
authors: JF
authors: Benenati
authors: Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute (MCVI), Baptist Hospital of Miami, 8900 North Kendall Drive, Miami, FL, 33176, USA.
authors: Constantino S
authors: CS
authors: Peña
mesh_terms: D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional
keywords: Radiation exposure; Real-time feedback; Reduction