ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the eye lens equivalent dose levels of doctors during interventional cardiology procedures and identify related influential factors. Methods Twenty interventional specialists were selected from a cardiovascular specialty hospital. The cumulative equivalent doses to their eye lens during operations were monitored, and equipment-related parameters (fluoroscopy time, dose area product value [DAP], and entrance skin dose[ESD]), operation types, and operators’ positions were recorded. Results The annual equivalent doses to the eye lens of seven doctors exceeded 20 mSv. There was a linear correlation between the weekly number of operations and the equivalent dose to the eye lens (R2 = 0.457, P = 0.001). The mean eye lens equivalent dose per operation was 17.1 μSv, showing linear correlations with fluoroscopy time, DAP values, and ESD values (R2 = 0.427, 0.206, and 0.237, respectively, P < 0.05). The fluoroscopy time, DAP value, ESD value, and eye lens equivalent dose during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were significantly higher than those during coronary angiography (t = −3.226, −3.108, −3.061, and −2.667, respectively, P < 0.03). Conclusion The annual equivalent doses to the eye lens are relatively high in interventional radiologists, some of whom may have values higher than the latest dose limit (20 mSv) suggested by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Attention should be paid to operators performing PCI, and the workload optimization is necessary in practical operations to avoid unnecessary fluoroscopy time and reduce the eye lens doses of the operators.