D. Zweers et al., PATIENT AND STAFF RADIATION-DOSE IN FLUOROSCOPY-GUIDED TIPS PROCEDURES AND DOSE REDUCTION, USING DEDICATED FLUOROSCOPY EXPOSURE SETTINGS, British journal of radiology, 71(846), 1998, pp. 672-676
Fluoroscopy guided interventions, such as transjugular intrahepatic po
rtosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedures. can result in relatively high rad
iation doses to patients and staff. The purpose of this study was to e
valuate the possible benefit of dedicated fluoroscopy exposure factors
in the reduction of doses. Doses to patients and staff were measured
during fluoroscopy-guided TIPS procedures in two Dutch university hosp
itals. Patient doses were calculated from dose-area product (DAF) meas
urements, entrance beam dimensions and DAP conversion factors. Staff d
oses were measured outside lead aprons using electronic personal dosem
eters. Average patient entrance skin dose (ESD) rate during fluoroscop
y was 49 mGy min(-1) (13 cases, average fluoroscopy duration 32 min) i
n one hospital, and 6 mGy min(-1) (10 cases, average fluoroscopy durat
ion 50 min) in the other. Estimated staff effective dose per procedure
was 28 mu Sv average in the first hospital compared with 4 mu Sv aver
age in the other. The use of dedicated fluoroscopy exposure factors, w
ith a relatively high tube voltage and lower tube current resulted in
a significant dose reduction for patient and staff in this type of rad
iological intervention.