Procedure and step-based analysis of the occupational radiation dose during endovascular aneurysm repair in the hybrid operating room

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study measured the cumulative occupational X-ray radiation dose received by support staff during endovascular aortic procedures and during additional intraoperative steps in the hybrid operating room. MethodsRadiation dose measurements were performed during interventions on 65 patients receiving 90 stent grafts during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), bifurcated EVAR, thoracic EVAR, iliac branched device deployment, aortouni-iliac stenting, and fenestrated/branched EVAR (F/BrEVAR). X-ray imaging was acquired using the Philips Allura FD20 Clarity System (Philips Medical Systems, Best, The Netherlands). The occupational radiation dose (also referred to as the estimated effective dose, E, measured in millisieverts) was measured with the DoseAware Xtend system (Philips Medical Systems) personal dosimeters. E was reported per staff member (ESTAFF), where “staff” was a generic term for each staff member included in the study: the first operator (FO), the second operator (ESO), a virtual maximum operator (MO), and all additional supporting staff, including the sterile nurse, nonsterile nurse, anaesthesiologist, and radiation technician. The primary outcome was the median cumulative ESTAFF (or EFO, EMO, and so on), which was presented as the median cumulative dose per intervention and stratified for several within-interventional EVAR and F/BrEVAR steps or stents. The second outcome was the percentage of the absorbed E by a supporting staff member in relation to the E measured by the reference badge attached on the C-arm (ESTAFF% or EFO%, EMO%, and so on). All outcomes are presented as median with interquartile range, unless stated differently. ResultsThe occupational effective dose in millisieverts of the MO (EMO) was 0.055 (0.029-0.082) for aortouni-iliac stenting (n = 6), 0.084 (0.054-0.141) during thoracic EVAR (n = 14), 0.036 (0.026-0.068) during bifurcated EVAR (n = 38), 0.054 (0.035-0.126) during iliac branched device deployment (n = 8), and 0.345 (0.235-0.757) during F/BrEVAR (n = 24). The median EMO in millisieverts was 0.025 (0.012-0.062) per renal target vessel (TV) and 0.146 (0.07-0.315) for a nonrenal visceral TV. During all noncomplex interventions, the EMO% was 4.4% (2.7%-7.3%), with the lowest median rate at 3.5% (2.5%-5%) for EVAR. The highest median rate EMO% was found for F/BrEVAR procedures: 8.2% (5.0%-14.4%). ConclusionsWith maximum operator shielding during femoral access, relative occupational radiation risk can be minimized. However, digital subtraction angiography image acquisition, recanalization of TVs, recanalization of superior mesenteric artery or celiac artery, and recanalization of branched TVs are predictors for increased occupational radiation dose risks caused by increased radiation doses to the patient and reduced options for shielding of the operator.