FLUG 2017 – Finger dose monitoring of vascular surgeons performing EVAR procedures; Jane Edwards

FLUG 2017 – Finger dose monitoring of vascular surgeons performing EVAR procedures; Jane Edwards

  Objectives Vascular surgeons are now routinely working with X-rays for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVARs) procedures. We aim to assess the impact of finger dose from these procedures to all surgeons performing complex endovascular procedures (CEP) at our Trust. Methods Since July 2015 all surgeons performing CEP have routinely worn finger ring monitors after gaining appropriate infection control advice. Finger monitors are worn for a two monthly period on the middle finger of each hand. Collar dose and whole body monitoring was already in place for these users. At the end of each monitoring period patient dose data, in terms of dose area product (DAP) and reference point dose, were collated for each case performed. This data was then summarised for each user and collated with the badge results from the dosimetry service. Results are also compared to local Trust dose investigation levels (DILs) to ensure all users are not at risk of approaching a dose limit. Results The data for each monitored surgeon shows...
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FLUG 2017 – Skin doses in cardiology – a phantom study; Martin Williams

FLUG 2017 – Skin doses in cardiology – a phantom study; Martin Williams

  Since the publication of IPEM Report 77 in 1997 the guidance for assessing typical skin dose rates likely to be received by patients undergoing fluoroscopic procedures has been to measure the dose rate at the surface of a phantom 20 cm in thickness. Increasingly in interventional cardiology, practitioners are making use of imaging projections that result in patient thickness being significantly greater than that currently considered typical for the purposes of performance testing. Consequently, the behaviour of modern fluoroscopic imaging systems at these steeper projections and the resulting typical patient skin dose rates is not likely to be well understood by users or the medical physics community supporting optimisation of such equipment. The Radiation Protection department at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre supports 10 cardiac catheterization labs across five NHS Trusts. A project was performed to assess the behaviour of these 10 systems and resulting typical skin dose rates using a set-up designed to mimic the steeper projections being performed...
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