BACKGROUND: With the technological evolution and expansion of interventional cardiology, the levels of X-ray exposure of patients and technical staff as well as the number of catheterization procedures have increased considerably. This has an impact on the inherent risk of exposure to ionizing radiation which is still underestimated by many. The levels of exposure must be routinely measured and adjusted. Our objective was to investigate and measure ionizing radiation levels emitted by cath lab X-ray equipments. METHODS: Technical tests were conducted to evaluate the air kerma of 8 X-ray equipments. RESULTS: Only 2 (25%) of the 8 equipments had dosimetry within maximum safety levels. The mean dose was 65% higher in devices with the flat detector technology. After supervised maintenance, there was a mean decrease of 42% in dosimetry values. All equipments were approved by the high and low contrast spatial resolution tests, and the image quality was approved by the medical team. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the equipments evaluated had dosimetry levels exceeding the maximum safety levels, especially those with the flat detector technology. These distortions were corrected by simple monitoring measures, without losses in image quality. Our results emphasizes the need to create institutional quality programs, to keep regular equipment maintenance and to exercise discretion in the incorporation of new technologies to minimize the potential effects of the deleterious effects of ionizing radiation, promoting greater safety and economy.
Radiation protection; Fluoroscopy; X-rays
