Improved radiation protection for the investigator in angiography and interventional radiology through use of permanent shielding devices as recommended in the German radiography regulation

Presently examiners using angiographic methods are not accustomed to measure the exposition of parts of the body. This results in a considerable undervaluation of the really received doses (in terms of effective dose). Only a consequent application of dosimetry in parts of the body - demanded by Paragraph 35 of the German X-Ray Regulation and also by the corresponding guide-line - demonstrates the real problems i.e. oversteppings of dose limits. The use of practicable installations for permanent shielding will lead to an improvement of the situation and result in a significant decrease of the received doses and - at the same time - a minor physical burden of the examinator. Dosimetry of radiation was performed at the position of the examiner both with and without the application of permanent shielding (acrylic glass (PMMA) containing lead plus shielding of the lower part of the body). It could be demonstrated that a decrease of the received dose can be reached by a rate of 2.5 to 5 concerning the trunk and of 50 concerning the skull, upper arm and hands. (orig.)