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Radiation Protection Methods for the Interventionalist’s Hands: Use of an Extension Tube

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Abstract

Purpose

Cumulative radiation exposure to the hands during certain interventional procedures may be high. It is important to decrease the amount of radiation to the operator due to the possibility of deterministic effects. We performed a pilot study to demonstrate a significant decrease in operator dose when using extension tubing (ET) in combination with shielding and collimation during a simulated percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTC) procedure.

Methods

A whole body, anthropomorphic phantom was used to simulate the patient. A Unfors-Xi Survey detector (to measure scatter) supported by a retort stand and trolley was placed in various positions to simulate the position of hands and eyes/thyroid of an interventionalist. Radiation dose was measured simulating left and right-sided PTC punctures with and without a lead shield, and with and without ET.

Results

Regarding the radiation dose to the hands; the use of an ET reduces dose by 54 % in right-sided PTC punctures without a shield and by 91 % if used in combination with a shield. For left-sided PTC punctures, ET reduces hand dose by 75 %. The use of collimation decreases hand dose by approximately 60 %. The use of shielding reduces dose to the eyes/thyroid by 98 %.

Conclusions

The dose to the hands can be significantly reduced with the appropriate use of a shield, ET, and tight collimation. The use of a shield is paramount to reduce dose to the eyes/thyroid. It is important for interventionalists to adhere to radiation protective practice considering the potential deterministic effects during a lifelong career.

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Conflict of interest

Dr. Shaheen Dixon, Mr. Daniel Schick, and Dr. John Harper have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Interventional Radiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, 199 Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia

    Shaheen Dixon & John Harper

  2. The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Shaheen Dixon

  3. Biomedical Technology Services, Health Services Support Agency, Princess Alexandra Hospital, 199 Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia

    Daniel Schick

  4. Department of Radiology, North Hampshire Hospital, Aldermaston Rd, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG24 9NA, UK

    Shaheen Dixon

Authors
  1. Shaheen Dixon
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  2. Daniel Schick
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  3. John Harper
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Correspondence to Shaheen Dixon.

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Dixon, S., Schick, D. & Harper, J. Radiation Protection Methods for the Interventionalist’s Hands: Use of an Extension Tube. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 38, 463–469 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-014-0893-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-014-0893-2

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