Patient doses and occupational exposure in a hybrid operating room

Purpose: This study aimed to characterize the radiation exposure to patients and workers in a new vascular hybrid operating room during X-ray-guided procedures.

Methods: During one year, data from 260 interventions performed in a hybrid operating room equipped with a Siemens Artis Zeego angiography system were monitored. The patient doses were analysed using the following parameters: radiation time, kerma-area product, patient entrance reference point dose and peak skin dose. Staff radiation exposure and ambient dose equivalent were also measured using direct reading dosimeters and thermoluminescent dosimeters.

Results: The radiation time, kerma-area product, patient entrance reference point dose and peak skin dose were, on average, 19:15min, 67Gy·cm², 0.41Gy and 0.23Gy, respectively. Although the contribution of the acquisition mode was smaller than 5% in terms of the radiation time, this mode accounted for more than 60% of the effective dose per patient. All of the worker dose measurements remained below the limits established by law.

Conclusions: The working conditions in the hybrid operating room HOR are safe in terms of patient and staff radiation protection. Nevertheless, doses are highly dependent on the workload; thus, further research is necessary to evaluate any possible radiological deviation of the daily working conditions in the HOR.