Abstract

Background and Objective:
Establishing Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs) for radiation exposure indicators in various imaging procedures can serve as an effective guide to reduce unnecessary patient exposure to ionizing radiation. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate patient radiation exposure during cardiac angiography and angioplasty procedures by measuring Entrance Surface Dose (DAP) and determining local DRLs.
Materials and Methods:
This study was conducted on 86 patients referred to Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan, Iran, during 2019 (1398 SH). DAP values were recorded using a DAP meter system equipped with a flat ionization chamber (1 cm³ volume, model 77334, PTW, Germany). Demographic data, procedure type, exposure time, and other relevant parameters were collected. Mean and median values (as local DRLs) were calculated. Statistical comparisons between groups were performed using the independent t-test in SPSS software.
Results:
DAP values ranged from 8.45 to 96.59 Gy·cm² in angiography and from 3.52 to 164.52 Gy·cm² in angioplasty procedures. The calculated local DRLs were 20.2 Gy·cm² for angiography and 43.5 Gy·cm² for angioplasty.
Conclusion:
The local DRL values obtained in this study were lower than those reported in previous studies, suggesting that radiation exposure techniques at this center are optimized and that patients are not subjected to unnecessary doses during these procedures.