Radioprotection organization of interventional cardiology workers in a Tunisian Terciary Center

Abstract

Cardiologists are in charge of about 40% of medical irradiation. Radiation protection of interventional cardiology workers is a cornerstone of the radiation risk prevention program and is part of the continuous process of improving the quality and safety of care in the hospital. We aimed to describe the organization of radiation protection in the cardiology department of the Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study on the organization of radiation protection of workers in the Cardiology Department of the Charles Nicolle Hospital of Tunis during the month of April 2019, using a pre-established checklist and the evaluation of individual exposure to X-rays according to dosimetric data. The total number of cardiology department staff exposed to X-rays was 10 in 2019 ( Table 1 ). The National Center of RadioProtection approved the department's architectural plans and authorized the acquisition and use of X-ray generators. The maintenance controls were organized regularly with a pre-established schedule. Besides, we noted certain shortcomings: radiological cloverleaf signs for restricted areas did not exist, but there were instructions to prohibit access. The X-ray generator's power-on light signal was functional. We noted that among the collective protection equipment, only the fixed screens in front of the control consoles were present. There was a sufficient number of individual protection equipment. We didn’t record any excess of the dose thresholds, since the acquisition of the X-ray generator. Regarding radiation dosages monitoring, since 2016 each worker has had a dosimeter and the NCRP regularly evaluated the dosimeter data, but no records of these data were found in the department. In-service training in radiation protection, regular evaluation of collective and individual protective measures could improve the radiation protection of interventional cardiology workers and reduce some professional diseases.