Estimation of Radiation Exposure in the Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

In intensive care unit the patient checked with x ray periodically, the radiation protection procedures will be applied perfectly. However patients and their neighboring ones will receive radiation dose. This study aims to evaluate the received dose by staff and adjacent patient during mobile procedures in intensive care unit. Radiation dose was measured for three months with thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD); which was given to each of the two resident nurses; they were handed over to the next team during shift changeover. In addition, and one TLD was placed in the bed of adjacent patient who was not examined. One TLD was kept in the doctors' duty room which was within the premises of the ICU. Thus, a total of four TLDs were used in the study. The result of the study revealed that the dose received by nurses, adjacent patient and resident doctor was 0.045(mSv), 0.069(mSv) and 0.022 (mSv) respectively. It found that if standard safety precautions were followed, cumulative radiation exposure to ICU resident doctor, nurses and adjacent patient was well within permissible limits and was not the cause of concern and hence routine personal dosimetric monitoring is not needed for residents in ICU. However, in view of changing practice, there is a need to repeat such audits periodically to monitor radiation exposure.