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Objective To analyze the eye lens equivalent dose levels of doctors during interventional cardiology procedures and identify related influential factors. Methods Twenty interventional specialists were selected from a cardiovascular specialty hospital. The cumulative equivalent doses to their eye lens during operations were monitored, and equipment-related parameters (fluoroscopy time, dose area product value [DAP], and entrance skin dose[ESD]), operation types, and operators’ positions were recorded. Results The annual equivalent doses to the eye lens of seven doctors exceeded 20 mSv. There was a linear correlation between the weekly number of operations and the equivalent dose to the eye lens (R2 = 0.457, P = 0.001). The mean eye lens equivalent dose per operation was 17.1 μSv, showing linear correlations with fluoroscopy time, DAP values, and ESD values (R2 = 0.427, 0.206, and 0.237, respectively, P < 0.05). The fluoroscopy time, DAP value, ESD value, and eye lens equivalent dose during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were significantly higher than those during coronary angiography (t = −3.226, −3.108, −3.061, and −2.667, respectively, P < 0.03). Conclusion The annual equivalent doses to the eye lens are relatively high in interventional radiologists, some of whom may have values higher than the latest dose limit (20 mSv) suggested by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Attention should be paid to operators performing PCI, and the workload optimization is necessary in practical operations to avoid unnecessary fluoroscopy time and reduce the eye lens doses of the operators.
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Objective:To attain comprehensive insight into the diagnostic X-ray equipment and examination frequency in radiological diagnosis and treatment institutions in Wuhan, with the purpose of assisting the health administration department in formulating medical exposure protection strategies and efficiently allocating radiological diagnosis and treatment resources.Methods:Using the census method, questionnaires on the basic information on diagnostic X-ray equipment and the annual number of examinations filled out in 2022 by the 1 030 radiological diagnosis and treatment institutions (excluding military and armed police hospitals) were collected through the Wuhan Prevention and Treatment Information Management Platform for Occupational Diseases. To obtain the data on number and frequency of diagnostic X-ray examinations, the different types of diagnostic X-ray examinations were divided by the total number of permanent residents by the end of 2021 in Wuhan.Results:In Wuhan, 1 030 radiological diagnosis and treatment institutions had 7 062 radiation workers and 2 540 diagnostic X-ray units of various types. 37.76% of units and 75.01% of radiation workers were concentrated in tertiary hospitals. The number of diagnostic X-ray units per million population was 186.10, with the top two being 48.65 DR machines per million population and 31.21 intraoral dental machines per million population. The total number of diagnostic X-ray examinations was 11 884 582, with plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) examinations accounting for 43.61% and 43.59% of the total, respectively. The annual frequency of examinations was 379.75 and 379.52 per 1 000 population, respectively. Radiodiagnosis and treatment resources were higher in central urban areas than that in remote urban areas.Conclusions:The development of diagnostic X-ray equipment in Wuhan was experiencing rapid growth, with potential for further expansion, and the frequency has not yet recovered to the level before the COVID-19 pandemic. The allocation of radiodiagnosis and treatment resources between central urban areas and remote urban areas needs to be coordinated and the management of medical radiation protection should be continuously strengthened, so as to promote the sustainable development of inter-regional radiodiagnosis and treatment, and ensure the health and safety of examinaed patients and indivuduals.