41A Influence of radiation protection equipment on the operator and patient dosimetry in coronary angiography

Introduction To reduce exposure to the workers in interventional radiology, Collective Protection Equipment (CPE) are used (low lead curtains and their vertical extension, ceiling suspended screen …). For the same purpose, radio-attenuator soft screens (RADPAD®) have been developed. The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of the CPE and the RADPAD® on the operator’s dosimetry in coronary angiography; we also measured patient’s skin-dose without and with the utilization of the RADPAD®. Methods Firstly, the interventional radiology equipment has been positioned at the tube incidence LAO 0°. The dose at different heights along the operator’s body (50, 75, 100, 125, 150 and 175 cm) was measured without the use of any CPE, and then by adding them successively (low curtains, vertical extension of the low curtains, ceiling suspended screens and then the radio-attenuator screen RADPAD®). Secondly, the skin dose of a phantom placed on the patient’s table was measured at three different distances from the ceiling screen, with and without RADPAD® at a tube voltage of 68 kVp in LAO 0° and then at 125 kVp in LAO 0° and LAO 30°. Results The use of the three CPE shows an attenuation of the radiation dose by 76% at the height of 175 cm along the operator’s body, it increases by 3.8% when using the RADPAD®. At low voltage, the use of the RADPAD® increases patient’s dose by 13% in the region near the ceiling screen. However, it attenuates the dose by 85.5% at 26 cm form this latter. At high voltage, the dose decreases at all of the three measure points; the effect of the RADPAD® varies depending on the distance from the screen and the tube angle. Conclusions Collective Protection Equipment are effective to decrease operator’s exposure in coronary angiography. The RADPAD® allows a significant reduction of the patient’s dose far the ceiling screen.