Eye lens radiation exposure to interventional cardiologists: a retrospective assessment of cumulativedoses

Abstract

Radiation dose to the eye lens is a crucial issue for interventional cardiologists (ICs) who are exposed during the procedures they perform. This paper presents a retrospective assessment of the cumulative eye lens doses of ICs enrolled in the O'CLOC study for Occupational Cataracts and Lens Opacities in interventional Cardiology. Information on the workload in the catheterisation laboratory, radiation protection equipment, eye lens dose per procedure and dose reduction factors associated with eye-protective equipment were considered. For the 129 ICs at an average age of 51 who had worked for an average period of 22 years, the estimated cumulative eye lens dose ranged from 25 mSv to more than 1600 mSv; the mean ± SD was 423 ± 359 mSv. After several years of practice, without eye protection, ICs may exceed the new ICRP lifetime eye dose threshold of 500 mSv and be at high risk of developing early radiation-induced cataracts. Radiation protection equipment can reduce these doses and should be used routinely.

Occupational radiation dose to eyes from interventional radiology procedures in light of the new eye lens dose limit from the International Commission on Radiological Protection

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6] While there is good awareness and understanding of radiation risks to staff from IR procedures, a lack of reliable values for eye doses has persisted. Recent publications have attempted to address this and have established that dose to the eyes can be significant, particularly if the X-ray tube is positioned over the patient table and if no ceiling-mounted lead screen or lead glasses are used; [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] however, more data on lens dose, particularly in terms of H p (3) (personal dose equivalent at 3 mm in soft tissue), is required. 15,16 Revised International Commission on Radiological Protection dose limit In April 2011, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) published a statement on tissue reactions recommending an equivalent dose limit for the lens of the eye of 20 mSv per annum.…”

Patient doses and occupational exposure in a hybrid operating room

“…However, it is necessary to consider the effects of the radiation protection equipment used in the HOR, such as suspended shields or lead eyeglasses, by adding dose reduction factors [29,30]. If it were necessary to know finger doses more accurately, wrist or ring TLDs are useful in this way [31,32] whereas Hp(3) calibration is recommended for the study of eye lens doses [33].…”

Evaluation of occupational and patient radiation doses in orthopedic surgery

“…As a consequence, areas of the body not protected by the lead apron may receive significant radiation doses from scattered X-rays (Kim et al, 2008, Bedetti et al, 2008, Rehani and Ortiz-Lopez, 2006, ICRP a , 2000, UNSCEAR, 2000, ICRP b , 2007, Trianni et al, 2005and Delichas et al, 2003. Thus, they are potentially at risk of developing radiation-induced cataracts, and complexity of invasive procedures (Rehani et al, 2011, Jacob et al, 2013.…”