Study objective: To determine the level of radiation exposure of anesthesiologists in the operating rooms and cardiac catheterization laboratory.
Design: Prospective study of all anesthesia fellows.
Setting: Operating rooms (ORs) and radiology department of a tertiary care pediatric hospital.
Subjects: Anesthesiologists caring for patients in a pediatric hospital requiring anesthesia or monitored anesthesia care. (Patients were not directly studied.)
Measurements and main results: Anesthesiologists wore standard radiation safety film badges, which were sensitive to cumulative doses of radiation greater than 10 mrem. In the ORs, anesthesiologists were exposed to less than 10 mrem/mon. In the cardiac catheterization laboratory, they had dosimetric readings that ranged from 20 to 180 mrem/mon and frequently exceeded the guidelines for nonradiation workers.
Conclusions: There is no need for routine dosimetric monitoring of anesthesiologists working in the OR setting, since this is associated with negligible radiation exposure. Monitoring of radiation film badges should be considered for anesthesiologists who frequently work in fluoroscopy areas, such as the cardiac catheterization laboratory. All personnel working near radiation sources should wear appropriate shielding and, whenever patient safety permits, distance themselves as far as possible from the source of radiation.