[Radiation protection provided by tungsten bismuth caps during interventional cardiology].
BACKGROUND
The effectiveness against radiation of tungsten bismuth caps, used in interventional cardiology is not well known.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the degree of radiation protection conferred by these caps in real work conditions.


METHODS
We compared the gross electric charges received at brain lobe levels by three occupationally exposed professionals who participated in 22 consecutive procedures, inside and outside of the tungsten bismuth cap.


RESULTS
The median electric charges outside and inside the cap were 3.71 (range 1.46-5.62) and 2.2 (range 1.29-3.93) nC, which correspond to a 40% radiation attenuation. However, the protection was heterogeneous.


CONCLUSIONS
Tungsten bismuth caps provide an adequate attenuation, but its degree is heterogeneous.
Escuela de Tecnología Médica, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Viña del Mar, Viña del Mar, Chile.
Sergio
S
Ramos-Avasola
Escuela de Tecnología Médica, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Viña del Mar, Viña del Mar, Chile.
Natalia
N
Díaz
Escuela de Tecnología Médica, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Viña del Mar, Viña del Mar, Chile.
Reynaldo
R
Roldán
Comisión Chilena de Energía Nuclear, Santiago, Chile.
Jorge
J
Gamarra
Instituto de Estadística, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.
Mónica
M
Catalán
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001729:Bismuth; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011481:Protective Clothing; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D014414:Tungsten
D001729:Bismuth; D014414:Tungsten