Evaluation of a real-time display for skin dose map in cardiac catheterisation procedures

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to validate a prototype designed to display skin dose maps in real time for clinicians that perform interventional cardiology procedures. Measurements using copper absorbers and three kinds of dosemeters (solid-state, radiochromic film and optically stimulated luminescence) were performed in a catheterisation laboratory. Some clinical results are also discussed. The system provides patient skin doses with acceptable accuracy, taking into account couch shifts, wedge compensation filters and collimation. The greatest source of uncertainty is that resulting from patient shape modelling. From a set of 374 patients recorded, it can be concluded that the peak skin dose (PSD) for patients with the same cumulative air kerma at the patient entrance reference point can be rather different. This real-time skin dose calculator has resulted easier to manage for measuring patient PSDs than other methods based on films or CR plates. As well as an improvement for patient safety, it could prove a useful training tool for clinicians.