Does the endovascular repair of aortoiliac aneurysms pose a radiation safety hazard to vascular surgeons?

Abstract

Although the total effective body doses under lead fell within established ICRP occupational exposure limits, they are not negligible. Because radiation exposure is cumulative and endovascular procedures are becoming more common, individuals performing these procedures must carefully monitor their exposure. Our results indicate that a team of surgeons can perform 386 hours of fluoroscopy per year or 587 EAIA repairs per year and remain within occupational exposure limits. Individuals who perform these procedures should actively monitor their effective doses and educate personnel in methods for reducing exposure.

Radiation exposure to anaesthetists during endovascular procedures

“…Several studies have reported radiation exposure among vascular surgeons involved in fluoroscopy-assisted surgery [14][15][16], and found exposure to be within safe recommended limits.…”

Occupational Radiation Protection in Interventional Radiology: A Joint Guideline of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Society of Europe and the Society of Interventional Radiology

“…Typical staff dose readings for different types of procedures have been published in the literature [11,19,[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]. Depending on the type of procedure and the technique used, the operator dose, per procedure, ranges from 3 to 450 lSv at the neck over protective garments, from\0.1 to 32 lSv at the waist or chest under protective garments, and from 48 to 1280 lSv at the hand.…”

Patient doses and occupational exposure in a hybrid operating room

“…Despite the increasing caseload for many vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists [17,18], there are few studies that have specifically investigated the radiation exposure to the entire operating team. Radiation exposure to the medical staff is highly dependent on their position with respect to the patient couch.…”