RADIATION EXPOSURE DURING ERCP - EFFECT OF A PROTECTIVE SHIELD

Objectives: To measure the radiation exposure to endoscopists, patient s, and assistants during diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP and to assess the effect of a protective lead shield. Radiation dose with and witho ut the protective lead shield was mapped in our standard fluoroscopy r oom. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients undergoing ERCP were selec ted for this study. Radiation exposure of endoscopists with and withou t a protective shield was monitored by digital dosimeter. Radiation ex posure for diagnostic procedures was correlated with that of therapeut ic procedures. Results: Endoscopists were exposed to 2.5 mR without th e protective shield, but exposure was reduced to an average of 0.27 mR per procedure with the shield. Endoscopists received an average of 1. 5 mR per diagnostic ERCP and 3.17 mR per therapeutic ERCP without the shield. When using the protective shield, however, those numbers were reduced to an average of 0.25 mR per diagnostic procedure and 0.28 mR per therapeutic procedure. Radiation exposure to endoscopic assistants , who were not shielded, averaged 0.56 mR per procedure. Conclusion: A mount of radiation exposure to occupational personnel during ERCP was related to duration of fluoroscopy and type of procedure. Radiation ex posure to endoscopists can be significantly reduced by the use of a pr otective shield. Medical assistants received less radiation than did e ndoscopists because the assistant's position was more distant from x-r ay sources.