Dosimetric data and radiation risk analysis for new procedures in interventional cardiology

The purpose of this study was to evaluate radiation doses to the patients and operators during interventional cardiology procedures, with a particular focus on the transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Patient doses for 5549 diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and 76 TAVI were examined, as well as occupational doses to Cardiology Dept. operators. The average patient dose for TAVI was double that of PTCA and six times higher than a simple CA; statistically significant differences were shown in the average patient dose for both trans-femoral and trans-apical access; the measurements show a corresponding increase in the average occupational dose for the cardiologist. Interventional cardiology could increase the collective dose and occupationally exposed worker doses; this increase could be significant if the use of certain procedures is extended to younger people; particular attention in the choice of procedure, optimisation and staff education and organisation is therefore suggested. (authors)