Article Text
Abstract
Introduction The ZeroGravity (ZG) radiation protection system was designed to minimize radiation exposure during angiographic and fluoroscopic procedures. It is composed by an overhead suspended 1.00 mm lead suit. Data in neurovascular procedures is not available.
Methods For a period of 3 months in a tertiary care center, one operator utilized conventional lead apron (LA)(Burlington Burlite 0.5 mm) and the other utilized the ZG system. Dosimeters were utilized in the left forehead (head), left thyroid, chest (left chest pocked of scrubs) and left ankle (foot). Dosimeter measurements were obtained at the end of the study period for total Deep Dose Equivalent (DDE). Radiation exposure was measured in cumulative DAP (mGycm2).
Results The two operators scrubbed in a total of 123 procedures: 71 stroke interventions, 21 diagnostic angiograms, 15 aneurysm embolizations, 9 carotid stents, and 6 miscellaneous procedures. The exposure to radiation was not different statistically with 233934 ± 130736 mGycm2 for the ZG vs. 293424 ± 374889 mGycm2 for the LA operator (p = 0.274). The table below depicts the DDE comparison between ZG vs. LA. The head on the LA was exposed to approximately 2 times more radiation, the thyroid 14 times, mediastinum infinite, and foot 3 times more radiation. The overall exposure to radiation was 4 times higher for the LA operator.
Conclusion The ZeroGravity (ZG) radiation protection system leads to substantially lower radiation exposure to the operator in neurointervention. However, substantial exposure may still occur at the level of the lens and thyroid to justify additional protection.
Disclosures D. Haussen: None. R. Nogueira: None.