Radiation protection in interventional radiology

Interventional Radiology (IR) needs long time of fluoroscopy and the obtaining of a great number of images. As a results, the exposition to radiation can produce detrimental effects that we will have to avoid if we know the threshold dose (determinists) and to reduce their appearance probability in those that do not depend on the dose (stochastic). For this it should be obtained reference values in these procedures. Effective dose is the quantity that better estimates the radiation risk. This quantity is not directly measurable, since depends on previous quantities, entrance surface dose, dose area product and organ doses. To apply the criteria of the dose limitation system, we propose to require three aspects: to reduce the patient and staff dose, training adapted in IR; and finally, recommendations on the managing of the IR equipment. (Author) 36 refs