A methodology to split the total cumulative Hp(10) dose into the Hp(10) doses received during various procedures performed by interventional cardiologist.

The methodology describing how to split the cumulative Hp(10) dose of interventional cardiologists into Hp(10) doses received during procedures of various types based on procedure-specific ELDO coefficients and Hp(3) doses per procedure is presented. The appropriate equations for Hp(10) (Hp(10) for procedure type i), depending on the number of various procedure types (i  =  1 … 4) performed by a particular physician, are derived. The methodology can be applied to whole-body doses measured on the lead apron and therefore can be used for optimisation of work practices in those catheterisation labs where routine dosimeter is worn above the apron.

Validation of ELDO approaches for retrospective assessment of cumulative eye lens doses of interventional cardiologists-results from DoReMi project.

The first validation results of the two approaches developed in the ELDO project for retrospective assessment of eye lens doses for interventional cardiologists (ICs) are presented in this paper. The first approach (a) is based on both the readings from the routine whole body dosimeter worn above the lead apron and procedure-dependent conversion coefficients, while the second approach (b) is based on detailed information related to the occupational exposure history of the ICs declared in a questionnaire and eye lens dose records obtained from the relevant literature. The latter approach makes use of various published eye lens doses per procedure as well as the appropriate correction factors which account for the use of radiation protective tools designed to protect the eye lens.

The impact of various protective tools on the dose reduction in the eye lens in an interventional cardiology-clinical study.

The aim of the study was to check, in clinical practice, the potential for the dose reduction of lead eyewear and a ceiling-suspended shield used to protect the eye lens of physicians working in interventional cardiology. To this end, for the lead eyewear, the dose reduction factors were derived to correct the readings from a dosimeter used routinely outside the glasses. Four types of lead eyewear with attached loose thermoluminescent dosimeters and EYE-D dosimeters were worn by physicians in two clinical centres, for two-month periods, during coronary angiography (CA), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and pacemaker procedures.

The effectiveness of lead glasses in reducing the doses to eye lenses during cardiac implantation procedures performed using x-ray tubes above the patient table.

The dose reduction factors (DRF) for different types of lead glasses and C-arm units with x-ray tubes placed above the patient table were calculated from the results of measurements by loose thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) and EYE-D dosimeters using a Rando phantom. The DRF values were analysed for different positions of routine dosimeters worn outside lead eyewear and confronted with DRFs calculated as the ratio of the dose equivalent to the eye measured with and without the eyewear. Moreover, for eye lens dosimeters designed to be worn behind lead glasses, multiplicative factors for various positions of dosimeter were derived in order to account for the differences between the doses measured on the inner side of the glasses and the dose equivalent to the eye lens.

Characteristics of interventional cardiologists and their work practices for the study on radiation-induced lens opacities based on the methodology developed by ELDO-preliminary results.

Preliminary results of the Polish epidemiology study on eye lens opacities among interventional cardiologists (ICs), based on the methodology proposed by ELDO (epidemiological studies of radio-induced cataracts in interventional cardiologists and radiologists: methodology implementation), are presented. The aim of the study is to test the hypothesis concerning the excess risk of cataract in the group of ICs. The first results concern the study population characteristics, including the most important confounding factors for cataract, as well as a detailed description of the work practices in interventional cardiology needed in order to reconstruct the cumulative eye lens dose.