Radiation dose optimization in coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). I. Experimental studies

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the influence on image quality and dose to the patient and operator of various equipment settings for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and to optimize the set-up. With an Alderson phantom, different settings, such as projection, protective screens, filtration, image intensifier size and collimation, were evaluated. Kerma-area product (KAP) was recorded as a measure of patient dose and scattered radiation was measured with an ionization chamber. Effective dose for a standardized PCI procedure was measured with thermoluminescent dosimeters inside the phantom. Image quality was evaluated with a contrast-detail phantom. Based on these findings, the equipment set-up was optimized to a low fluoroscopy dose rate with a sufficient image quality. Several operating parameters affected dose, particularly scattered radiation. The optimization reduced the fluoroscopy KAP rate from 44 to 16 mGy cm(2)/s using 15 cm of acrylic. The effective dose was reduced from 13 to 4.6 mSv for a standardized PCI procedure. Radiation dose to patient and operator in PCI is heavily dependent on both equipment set-up and operating parameters which can be influenced by the operator. With a careful optimization, a large reduction of radiation dose is possible.