Cardiac Radioscopy

Image quality and radiation safety in Cardiac Cath Lab/EP/OR users

 

Fluoroscopy used by radiologists (Conventional, General Purpose C-Arms, Angiography C-Arms), Cardiologists (Cardiac C-Arms, EP Labs), Surgeons (Mobile C-Arms), and Urologists.

 

Fluoroscopy used in security are in separate section.

 

Cardiac C-Arm  Fluoroscopy

Equipment used in cardiology is designed and optimized for imaging of hearts. This picture on the right indicates set up for ACR Fluoroscopy Resolution, Angiography Resolution, and Input Patient Dose Measurements in Cardiology. Note resolution plate is on the table. Dose is also assessed as patient input dose.

 

Fluoroscopy in E.P.

E.P. Lab is tested in a similar way as Cardiac Cath Lab.

 

Mobile C-Arm  Fluoroscopy - Surgery

ACR Insert as designed for Periphery Angiographic and Cardiac Cath lab Angiography testing.

British Journal of Radiology (1990) 63, 885-888 ©1990 British Institute of Radiology

 

A survey of the radiation exposures received by the staff at two cardiac catheterization laboratories

Brian J. McParland, PhD, FCCPM*, Josip Nosil, PhD and Brian Burry

 

Division of Radiation Physics, Cancer Control Agency of British Columbia, Victoria Cancer Clinic, Victoria V8R 1J8  Department of Medical Imaging, Victoria General Hospital, Victoria, BC Canada

 

This excerpt was created in the absence of an abstract.

 

Staff working in cardiac catheterization laboratories receive radiation exposures from primary radiation (if any part of their body is placed within the X-ray beam) or from secondary radiation due to scatter from the patient and image intensifier and to leakage from the X-ray tube. As a result, the radiation exposure distribution over a staff member's body is expected to be non-uniform. In order to evaluate the radiation somatic risk to be assigned to an individual, and to assess the efficacy of the personal shielding used, radiation exposures must be measured at specific anatomical locations.

 

In the study described here, radiation exposures received by catheterization laboratory personnel were measured at various body locations in two separate laboratories over 3–5 day periods. This study was initiated as a consequence of conventional radiation monitoring by the federal regulatory agency (Bureau of Radiation and Monitoring Devices, Health and Welfare Canada), which had indicated that occasional high exposures were received by some individuals.

 

Received for publication January 1, 1990. Revision received April 1, 1990.  e.

PMID: 2252982 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]