Evaluation of F/E·DOI method as an approximate estimate of skin dose during percutaneous coronary intervention procedure

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of fluoroscopy time/total exposure times exposure times · in direction of interest (F/E·DOI) method as an approximate estimate of skin dose during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure. Up to March 10, 2004, fifty-seven patients (male: 46 cases, female: 11 cases, age range 38-85 years; mean age 67±11 years) had undergone PCI and 157 directions of exposure was measured using X-ray films (KONICA MINOLTA SR-DUP) placed under the back of each patient during the procedure. The fluoroscopy time (minutes), the times of exposure in each direction during the procedure, and the thickness of chest (cm) was recorded. The relation of the skin dose to fluoroscopic time, exposure times in direction of interest, and F/E·DOI was assessed. The relationship between fluoroscopy time and skin dose was shown as y=0.02x+0.22 (r=0.54, p<0.0001, m.e=0.00±0.71 Gy, e.a=-2.19∼l.53 Gy). In addition, the relation of skin dose to exposure times in the direction of interest was y=0.07x+0.27 (r=0.77, p<0.0001, m.e=-0.00±0.53 Gy, e.a=-2.45∼1.76 Gy). The relationship between skin dose and F/E·DOI was y=0.06x+0.30 (r=0.85, p<0.0001, m.e=-0.00±0.44 Gy, e.a=-1.28∼1.06 Gy). Moreover, the relationship between skin dose and (F/E·DOI x 0.06+0.30) x coefficient of direction x coefficient in thickness of chest was y=0.99x-0.02 (r=0.89, p<0.0001, m.e=0.00±0.38 Gy, e.a=-1.12∼l.27 Gy). The calculated results corresponded to the skin dose during the procedure. F/E·DOI method was simple and effective, moreover, that enabled us to inform the skin dose during the PCI procedure to the interventionalist easily. (authors)