Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the extent of radiation exposure to the patient and the surgeon in balloon catheter dilation.
Methods: Dosimeters were used to record radiation exposure to both patients and surgeons. The mean radiation dose per sinus treated and per patient treated was calculated for each dosimeter location.
Results: The mean patient dose (108 sinuses treated in 34 patients), was 0.32 mSv per sinus and 1.02 mSv per patient over the eye and 1.33 mSv per sinus and 4.22 mSv per patient over the temple. The average total fluoroscopy time was 3.6 minutes per patient. The average number of sinuses treated was 3.2. The mean surgeon dose at the chest (254 sinuses in 89 patients) was 0.025 mSv per sinus and 0.072 mSv per patient. The mean surgeon dose at the hand (182 sinuses in 68 patients) was 0.009 mSv per sinus and 0.023 mSv per patient.
Conclusions: The use of fluoroscopy in balloon catheter dilation exposes both the patient and surgeon to very low doses of radiation.