Article

Typical local DRL values for interventional cardiology procedures

¹ Lebanese American University, Medical Center-Rizk Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
² Faculty of Public Health, Université La Sagesse, Beirut, Lebanon
³ Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission, National Council for Scientific Research, 11-8281 Beirut, Lebanon

^* Corresponding author: chadi.massoud@uls.edu.lb

Received: 22 July 2024
Accepted: 11 November 2024

Abstract

This study aims to establish typical values for common interventional cardiology (IC) procedures performed at the Lebanese American University Medical Center-Rizk Hospital (LAUMC-RH).

Air kerma-area product (P_KA), cumulative air kerma at patient entrance reference point (K_a,r), fluoroscopy time, and number of images were retrospectively collected for 950 IC procedures conducted from May 2022 to November 2023. Typical values were determined as the median value of the distribution of exposure parameters for coronary angiography (CA), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), CA + PCI and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures. These values were then compared to Lebanese national and international diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) to define future optimization steps, if need.

The typical values were 14, 41, 37 and 33 Gy.cm² for P_KA and 260, 877, 782 and 295 mGy for K_a,r concerning CA, PCI, CA+ PCI and TAVI procedures, respectively. Notably, these values were lower than the national DRLs and those reported in other countries. This suggests the implementation of effective radiation protection practices at LAUMC-RH.

This is the first study to establish typical values for common IC procedures performed at LAUMC-RH. Despite the favorable results, it is essential to emphasize the continued efforts required to optimize patient radiation exposure for the safety of both patients and staff.