Radiation exposure of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists during ureteroscopic procedures using fluoroscopy.

Due to the use of fluoroscopy in the operating room, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) frequently are exposed to the dangers of radiation emitted during surgical procedures using fluoroscopy. The purposes of this research were to determine the level of radiation exposure of the CRNA during fluoroscopic procedures in the operating room and to determine whether these levels are within the limits of maximum permissible dose equivalents published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). This research was conducted in an operating room specifically designated for urological procedures using fluoroscopy. A stationary dosimeter was used to measure radiation exposure. The dosimeter was exchanged monthly for 6 months. Data from this study confirmed that the total radiation exposure was above the limit set by the CFR for whole body radiation exposure, thus exposing the thyroid, which is typically unprotected. The data from this study also supported earlier works that suggested that the radiation to the lens of the eye is of little concern since the exposure rarely exceeds the dose limits set by the CFR.