The Effect of a Suspended Radiation Protection System on Occupational Radiation Doses During Infrarenal EVAR Procedures: A Randomised Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the protective effect of Zero Gravity (ZG) with conventional radiation protection during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Secondly, user experience was surveyed with a questionnaire on ergonomics. METHODS: This was a single centre, prospective, randomised, two arm trial where 71 consecutive elective infrarenal EVAR procedures were randomised into two groups: (1) operator using ZG and assistant using conventional protection (n = 36), and (2) operator and assistant using conventional radiation protection (n = 35). A movable floor unit ZG system consists of a lead shield (1.0 mm Pb equivalent) for the front of the body and 0.5 mm Pb equivalent acrylic shielding for the head and neck. The ZG also includes arm flaps of 0.5 mm Pb equivalent covering the arm up to the elbow. Deep dose equivalent values, Hp(10) were measured with direct ion storage dosimeters (DIS) placed on various anatomical regions of the operator (axilla, chest, abdomen, and lower leg). Personal dose equivalent values, Hp(3) to eye lenses were measured in the operating and assisting surgeon using thermoluminescence dosimeters. The study was registered at the US National Institute of Health #NCT04078165. RESULTS: Protection with the standard protection was superior in chest (0.0 vs. 0.1 µSv), abdomen (0.0 vs. 0.6 µSv), and lower leg (0.4 vs. 2.2 µSv) (p < .001). On the other hand, the ZG system yielded better shielding for the axilla (1.5 vs. 0.0 µSv) and eyes (6.3 vs. 1.1 µSv) of the operator. The use of ZG hampered the deployment of ancillary shields, which is particularly relevant for protection of the assisting surgeon. Users found ZG more cumbersome than conventional garments, it also impaired communication and reduced field of view. CONCLUSION: Both ZG and conventional radiation protection reduced radiation exposure. Conventional protection allows better manoeuvrability at the price of wider exposure of the upper arm and axilla. ZG indirectly impaired protection of the assistant.

Hybrid Revascularization for Extensive Iliofemoral Occlusive Disease.

BACKGROUND: Total occlusion of the iliac-femoral tract can cause a variety of life-limiting symptoms ranging from mild claudication to chronic limb-threatening ischemia. Efforts should be made to revascularize the symptomatic ischemic limb. Currently there are different options in the vascular surgeon's armamentarium to achieve this. The aim of the study was to verify the feasibility and outcomes of inflow hybrid revascularizations combining femoral endarterectomy and recanalization of iliac atherosclerotic occlusion. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of all hybrid revascularizations involving femoral endarterectomy and endovascular treatment of iliac occlusion. The operations were performed in Helsinki University Hospital between January 2013 and December 2018. First, information about patients' baseline characteristics, indications and details of surgery and technical/hemodynamic success, and complications and mortality were obtained from the vascular registry and patients records. Secondarily, a prospective assessment of mid-term patency was performed through follow-up in November 2019. Immediate technical success, 30-day mortality, complications, and patency were considered major outcomes. Hemodynamic improvement, amputation rate, and overall mortality were also assessed. RESULTS: One hundred sixty three iliofemoral occlusions were performed on 147 patients during the period studied. Six patients (3.6%) had infrarenal aortic occlusion, 86 (52.7%) had common iliac, and 128 (78.5%) had external iliac artery occlusion. Technical success rate was 88.3% (n = 144 occlusions recanalized). Primary technical success was somewhat lower in lesions ≥ 90 mm (87.1%) compared to lesions shorter than 90 mm (95.7%; χ2P = 0.06). Iliac stent was deployed in 141 (94.6%) cases, 51 (34.3%) of which were covered stents. Significant residual stenosis remained in 1.2% of cases. Median operative time was 4 hr 34 min (interquartile range 2 hr 43 min) and median estimated blood loss was 743 mL (interquartile range 500 mL). Five patients (3.0%) developed a deep groin infection and 12 (8.1%) suffered any major cardiovascular event or stroke perioperatively. Primary patency at 30 day, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years was 98.7%, 98.1%, 96.6%, and 93.7%, respectively. Hemodynamic success was documented in 107 patients (73%). By the end of the follow-up, 7 iliofemoral tracts (11.1%) reoccluded, 2 limbs (1.2%) required amputation, and 50 patients (3.0%) died. CONCLUSIONS: Good immediate success rate and mid-term patency can be achieved by hybrid revascularization of iliofemoral occlusions. Careful patient selection is mandatory because this population often suffers from universal atherosclerosis. The involvement of the aorta represents a significant determinant of worse long-term patency, although it did not preclude technical success.

Radiation Doses to Staff in a Hybrid Operating Room: An Anthropomorphic Phantom Study with Active Electronic Dosimeters.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the effects of different imaging settings on radiation exposure to the operator and surgical team in a hybrid operating room (OR). METHODS: Measurements to determine scatter radiation in different imaging and geometry settings using an anthropomorphic phantom were performed in a hybrid OR equipped with a robotic C arm interventional angiography system (Artis Zeego; Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany). The radiation dose (RD) was measured with seven calibrated Philips DoseAware active electronic dosimeters and a Raysafe Xi survey detector, which were placed at different locations in the hybrid OR. The evaluated set ups included low dose, medium dose, and high dose fluoroscopy for abdomen; fluoroscopy fade; roadmap; and digital subtraction angiography (DSA), all using 20 s exposures. The effect of magnification, tube angulation, field size, source to skin distance, and RADPAD protection shields were assessed. Finally RD during cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was obtained. RESULTS: In the operator position the initial settings with low dose fluoroscopy caused a RD of 1.03 µGy. The use of fluorofade did not increase the radiation dose (1.02 µGy), whereas the roadmap increased it threefold (2.84 µGy). The RD with "normal fluoro" was 4.13 µGy and increased to 6.44 µGy when high dose fluoroscopy mode was used. Magnification or field size varying from 42 cm to 11 cm led the RD to change from 0.86 µGy to 2.10 µGy. Decreasing the field of view to 25% of the initial size halved the RD (0.48 µGy). The RDs for the left anterior oblique 30° and right anterior oblique 30° were 3.26 µGy and 1.63 µGy, respectively. DSA increased the cumulative dose 33 fold but the RADPAD shield decreased the DSA RD to 4.92 µGy. The RD for CBCT was 47.2 µGy. CONCLUSION: Radiation exposure to operator and personnel can be significantly reduced during hybrid procedures with proper radiation protection and dose optimisation. A set of six behavioural rules were established.