Radiation exposure during standard and complex interventional procedures

Radiation doses given during standard and complex interventional procedures were compared. Screening times, dose-area products, and radiologists' forehead and finger doses were recorded during 28 standard percutaneous drainages and 10 complex drainages (eight combined procedures and two failed procedures). The median screening times (8.75 min) and finger doses (84 mu Gy) during standard drainages were less than those during complex drainages (20.5 min, p = 0.0005 and 163 mu Gy, p = 0.0003). Dose-area products and forehead doses were also lower, but not significantly. Previously published series on radiation measurements lack data on complex procedures. This may bias the results, since combined and failed interventions, which are common, are associated with higher radiation exposure than are standard procedures.