The Radiation Dose Received By Patients During Endovascular Treatment Of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Introduction. It is becoming increasingly more frequent to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) using endovascular techniques and as a result the doses of radiation patients receive, both in the diagnosis and intervention as well as in the ensuing follow-up, are higher than in conventional surgical treatment. It is essential to define the reference radiation dosage levels that are needed to perform the operation. Aim. To quantify the total dose received by patients submitted to this kind of treatment. Patients and methods. An observational-prospective study was conducted to analyse 46 patients with AAA who were treated using an endovascular approach in the year 2004; aortomonoiliac devices were utilised in 27 cases and 19 received bifurcated stents. Results. A total radiation dose of 48.62 mSv was obtained in the first year; patients received the same dose regardless of whether an aortomonoiliac or a bifurcated stent had been placed. Conclusions. The dose obtained does not give rise to any appreciable adverse effects in the first year as far as dosage-determined effects are concerned. The greater part of the dose received by patients is due to the computerised axial tomography scans that are carried out. Magnetic resonance imaging can play an important role in reducing the doses that are required in the future.