VASCULAR RADIOLOGY IN THE NETHERLANDS IN 1992 - A QUANTITATIVE APPROACH

A survey was held into methods and extent of vascular radiology in the Netherlands. For the year 1992, quantitative data on the number of pa tients, vascular radiological examinations and characteristics of angi ography facilities were obtained from more than 80% of the Dutch hospi tals with angiography rooms (120). The following estimates have been i nferred: approximately 50 600 patients were referred for non-cardiac v ascular radiology, including 32 100 patients for intra-arterial arteri ography, 8900 for intravenous DSA arteriography, 4600 for phlebography and 5000 for interventional radiology. On average about two vascular examinations were carried out per patient referred for arteriography. In interventional radiology, the number of patients and the number of examinations are quite similar. The total number of angiography rooms in the Netherlands was 136. The average age of angiography X-ray syste ms was 7.1 years, of imaging equipment 5.7 years. In 56% of the hospit als, the X-ray tube was normally applied in the undercouch position, i n 40% in overcouch position and in 4% there was no preferred position. An additional survey of occupational exposure conditions in angiograp hy rooms (19 hospitals) showed that, in most hospitals, protective lea d aprons of 0.5 mm Pb-equivalent were in use. Thyroid collars were use d rather infrequently.