Patient Radiation Exposure During Interventional Procedures is a Concern for Some Developing CountriesAugust 04, 2009Interventional radiology procedures are on the rise in developing countries and there is a significant need for optimization of these procedures to ensure patient safety. Many facilities in these countries lack the concept of patient dose estimation and dose management, putting patients at a higher risk of developing complications due to overexposure from radiation during interventional procedures, according to a study performed by the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria. The study included data from 55 hospitals in 20 countries-mostly in Eastern Europe, five in Africa and six in Asia. "We found that a substantial number of coronary angioplasty procedures performed in the developing countries in this study are above the currently known dose reference level," said Madan M. Rehani, PhD, coordinator of the study. "We also found that kerma area product (KAP), a method to determine dose estimations, was available in almost half of the facilities, but none had experience in its use," said Dr. Rehani. "There is a significant lack of awareness about patient dose estimations and dose management among interventional radiologists and cardiologists in developing countries. Our goal is to introduce these concepts to them and achieve effective implementation," he said. "Most training centers need to establish a culture of dose assessment and dose management-including programs for residents with radiation protection as an essential component-to improve patient safety. Dose monitoring devices for angiography equipment should also be considered," said Dr. Rehani. The American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) |
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| Related Radiation Exposure Current Events and Radiation Exposure News Articles Developmental drug may help bone fractures heal after radiation exposure A drug currently under development by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine may help bone fractures heal more quickly after radiation exposure, according to a study by Pitt researchers. Herbal tonic for radiotherapy Antioxidant extracts of the leaves of the Gingko biloba tree may protect cells from radiation damage, according to a study published in the International Journal of Low Radiation. Thyroid surgery safe for older patients, study finds Thyroid surgery is safe for older patients, say physicians who found only slight differences in rates of complications and hospital readmissions in a multi-year study. ORMatE returns to NRL after nearly 2 years in Earth orbit Completing an 18-month mission orbiting the Earth more than 6,000 times on-orbit the International Space Station (ISS), the Optical Reflector Material Experiment (ORMatE-1) returns to Washington, D.C., to NRL's Electronics Science and Technology Division to begin experiment testing and analysis. Radiologists find a technique to significantly reduce patient radiation dose during CT angiography Radiologists have discovered that prospective electrocardiogram (ECG) gating allows them to significantly reduce the patient radiation dose delivered during computed tomography (CT) angiography, a common noninvasive technique used to evaluate vascular disease. Comprehensive cardiac CT scan may give clearer picture of significant heart disease A team of researchers led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) radiologists has developed a computed-tomography-based protocol that identifies both narrowing of coronary arteries and areas of myocardial ischemia - restricted blood flow to heart muscle tissue - giving a better indication of clinically significant coronary artery disease. Space-related radiation research could help reduce fractures in cancer survivors A research project looking for ways to reduce bone loss in astronauts may yield methods of improving the bone health of cancer patients undergoing radiation treatment. New study compares after-hours and daytime surgery success rates Patients who have after-hour orthopaedic surgeries risk a slightly higher rate of necessary follow-up surgeries, according to a study published in the September 2009 issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS). Radiologists, medical physicists work to make imaging procedures safer The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) reaffirmed its commitment to patient safety today in responding to a study and accompanying perspective on radiation dose from medical imaging procedures in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). Iterative reconstruction technique significantly reduces patient radiation dose during CT scans Computed tomography (CT) scans are responsible for more than two thirds of the total radiation dose associated with medical imaging exams. More Radiation Exposure Current Events and Radiation Exposure News Articles |
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