Radiation exposure levels according to vascular access sites during PCI : A prospective controlled study.

BACKGROUND: We previously showed that using the radial artery access site as opposed to the femoral artery site decreases the radiation exposure of patients during coronary artery interventions. The objective of this study was to compare radiation exposure levels of the operating physician during coronary interventions when incorporating both radial and femoral artery approaches. METHODS: The study assessed all coronary angioplasties performed in a major metropolitan general hospital. The study design was prospective and observational, in which we measured the radiation exposure of the patient and the operator. Measurements of radiation levels were made using an electronic personal dosimeter (Diamentor® E2-DAP) at the radial and at the femoral artery access sites. An interventional cardiologist operator performed all the percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) using a single-plane angiography unit via both femoral and radial artery approaches. RESULTS: Data from 252 PCIs were recorded. The mean physician radiation exposure levels from the femoral access site and the right radial access site were 40.5 ± 20.2 µSv and 47.5 ± 26.5 µSv, respectively (p < 0.02). There was a strong correlation between physician and patient radiation exposure levels. However, there was no correlation between patient body mass index and radiation exposure levels. CONCLUSION: We found significantly higher physician radiation exposure levels with the radial artery than with the femoral artery access site.

Operator radiation exposure during transradial coronary angiography : Effect of single vs. double catheters.

BACKGROUND: The right radial artery has gained popularity as the preferred access site for coronary angiography. To save time and limit the radiation exposure of operators and patients, newly designed catheters can be used to access both the right and left coronary arteries. The aim of this study was to compare operator radiation exposure between single-catheter (SCA) and two-catheter approaches (TCA). METHODS: In all, 256 patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography via the right radial artery in a high-volume medical center were randomized to either the SCA or TCA group. The dose of radiation exposure of the operators was measured by an electronic dosimeter attached to the breast pocket of the operator's apron. The dose-area product and air kerma were used as indices of patient exposure to radiation. The duration of fluoroscopy "beam-on" time, acquisition time, and total duration of the procedure were measured and analyzed for the two groups. RESULTS: Operator radiation exposure was 21.6 ± 11.4 µSv in the SCA group, which was significantly less than 28.0 ± 14.9 µSv in the TCA group. The duration of fluoroscopy was significantly shorter in the SCA group than in the TCA group (152 ± 83 vs. 203 ± 121 s; p < 0.001). Moreover, the total duration of the diagnostic procedure was also shorter in the SCA group compared with the TCA group (9.5 ± 3.2 vs. 11.4 ± 4.0 min; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The use of SCA is advantageous over TCA in reducing the exposure of operators to radiation. The shorter duration of fluoroscopy beam-on time and total procedure time may contribute to the lower exposure of operators to radiation.