INTRODUCTION
The frequency of endourological interventions has increased in recent years. Concordantly, the use of fluoroscopy has also increased during endourological interventions, especially in stone surgeries. [1] Therefore, surgeons and operating room staff members may be exposed to large amounts of radiation. This exposure has the potential to cause stochastic (mutations, carcinogenesis) and deterministic effects in the affected individuals [2,3].
The effects of ionizing radiation vary depending on factors such as the applied radiation dose, the duration of irradiation, and the amount of protection used. Dosages that occasionally exceed standard limits typically carry only small and short-term health risks. However, lifelong exposure to any intensity of radiation poses a greater health hazard than brief exposure to high amounts of radiation [4]. Therefore, the International Radiation Commission strongly recommend healthcare professionals not exceed 20 mSv of exposure per year during any five-year professional period [5]. Other safety principles, such as radiation protection with glasses, gloves, and thyroid shields (as low as reasonably achievable [ALARA]), maximizing the distance between the operating room staff and the x-rays, and minimizing the total fluoroscopy time must also be regarded. [6]
While radiologists are perhaps best known for using fluoroscopy, urologists (especially endourologists) also frequently use fluoroscopy, as do orthopedists and cardiologists [7-10][ While there are many studies on the potential danger of radiologist exposure to radiation [9,10], few studies have focused specifically on the risks for endourologists [9,10]. Despite the routine use of fluoroscopy by urologists, there is not enough information about the recommended guidelines for using fluoroscopy and the best radiation protection protocols for these professionals [11,12]
In this study, therefore, we aimed to evaluate the urologists’ use of fluoroscopy in endourologic procedures and their theoretical and practical applications as well as their knowledge of fluoroscopic protection measures.