Investigation of X-ray permeability of surgical gloves coated with different contrast agents.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the effectiveness and radiation protection capability of latex gloves coated with various contrast agents as an alternative to lead gloves. METHODS: The following six groups were created to evaluate the permeability of X-ray in this experimental study: lead gloves, two different non-ionic contrast media (iopromide 370/100 mg I/mL and iomeprol 400/100 mg I/mL), 10% povidone-iodine (PV-I), 240/240 g/mL barium sulphate and a mixture of equal amounts of all contrast agents. A radiation dose detector was placed in coated latex gloves for each one. The absorption values of radiation from latex gloves coated with various contrast agents were measured and compared with the absorption of radiation from lead gloves. This study was designed as an 'experimental study'. RESULTS: The mean absorption value of X-ray from lead gloves was 3.0±0.08 µG/s. The mean absorption values of X-ray from latex gloves coated with various contrast agents were 3.7±0.09 µG/s (iopromide 370/100 mg I/mL), 3.6±0.09 µG/s (iomeprol 400/100 mg I/mL), 3.7±0.04 µG/s (PV-I), 3.1±0.07 µG/s (barium sulphate) and 3.8±0.05 µG/s (mixture of all contrast agents). Latex gloves coated with barium sulphate provided the best radiation absorption compared with latex gloves coated with other radiodense contrast agents. CONCLUSION: Latex gloves coated with barium sulphate may provide protection equivalent to lead gloves.

Diagnostic quality of CT pulmonary angiography in pulmonary thromboembolism: a comparison of three different kV values.

BACKGROUND: Our purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of different kilovolt (kV) uses in computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in the diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). We also aimed to establish the optimal kV value and investigate the possibility of obtaining appropriate imaging quality with minimal radiation dose. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We compared 120, 100, and 80 kV CTPA for 90 patients in whom PTE was clinically considered. The examinations were carried out using a 128 multislice CT device (Definition AS, Siemens Medical Solutions, Forchheim, Germany). Each kV value was used on 30 patients in 3 groups. Patients in all groups were compared with respect to the mean radiation dose they received, pulmonary arterial attenuation values, image quality, and motion artefacts. RESULTS: With respect to pulmonary arterial attenuation values, imaging with 80 kV yielded significantly higher values (p<0.05). However, no difference was found between 120 kV, 100 kV, and 80 kV with respect to image quality. Similarly, no significant difference was detected between the groups with respect to pulmonary artery contrasting and motion artefacts. Statistically significant differences were present in DLP values and effective dose among all 3 groups (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Using 80 kV as the low value in CTPA imaging for patients pre-diagnosed with PTE will increase the density of pulmonary arteries and decrease the amount of radiation received.