Staff dose assessment from coronary angiography

Background: Interventional cardiology procedures such as coronary angiography (CA) and percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography (PTCA) has been increased recent years. The purpose of this study was to measurement of effective dose to cardiology staffs who operate near the patient and are exposed to non-uniform radiation field due to patient scattered radiation. Materials and Methods: This study was performed in angiography department of Fatemeh Zahra Hospital as specialized hospital of heart in Sari, the Northern city of Iran for two months and 687 interventional cardiology procedures were studied. Doses were recorded with thermoluminescence dosimeter (TLD) for 10 cardiologists, 10 nurses and 1 radiology technologist and the effective dose were estimate using the Niklason algorithm. Results: Mean annual effective dose (µSv ) to cardiologist and nurses and radiology technologist from interventional cardiology procedures were 535.57 (68.6 – 1984.8) µSv and 153.7 (59.5 – 277.2) µSv respectively. Mean effective dose (µSv) per interventional cardiology procedure for cardiologist and nurses and radiology technologist were 2.123 and 0.274 µSv respectively. Conclusion: The results indicate large variation in radiation exposure between staffs. No correlation was found between the number of procedures and effective dose. None of the annual effective dose appear to exceed the annual effective dose limit of 20 mSv.