Estimation of Typical Values (DRL) in Angioplasties Performed at a Radiology Service of a Hospital in Southern Brazil

Abstract

Interventional radiology involves diagnostic and therapeutic interventions using X-ray-emitting equipment. Due to the high radiation doses administered to patients during these procedures, there is a significant risk of severe tissue reactions resulting from prolonged exposure. To prevent unnecessary high doses during patient exposures, the International Commission on Radiological Protection recommends the use of Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs) as an effective tool for optimizing procedures in diagnostic or interventional radiology services. This study aimed to estimate the DRLs (typical values) resulting from interventional radiology procedures conducted in a public hospital in southern Brazil. To achieve this, a database was developed to facilitate the collection of information regarding exposures during interventional procedures, enabling the establishment of DRLs specific to a single facility, known as typical values. Patient and procedure data were collected and tabulated by the Radiation Protection Service (SPR) of the hospital through consultation with the interventional radiology service’s logbook or, if necessary, the State Information System of Risk and Potential Benefit (SIERBP), followed by the application of exclusion criteria. After data collection, the typical doses received by adult patients undergoing these procedures were estimated through simple descriptive statistics, using the median of the data distribution and the standard deviation. The results obtained provide a better understanding of the necessary actions, whether optimization or protocol review, to ensure the radiological protection of patients. This approach has the potential to benefit not only the patients but also the entire professional team involved in the interventional radiology service.