Radioprotection in CO2 Angiography

Why to focus on radioprotection in a Conference of biomechanics? Because a deep analysis of the radioprotective problem of this quite new diagnostic procedure, demonstrates that the optimization of radioprotection is strictly related to the optimization of gas injection, which changes in the different biomechanical conditions. A particular attention is focused to the differences, in terms of radiological dose between iodine and CO2, and some protocols are on course to clarify this aspect, frequently with incoherent results. In this paper the radioprotection problem of CO2 angiography will be clearly outlined, with procedural references to vascular biomechanics. It will be demonstrated that the radioprotection problem and imaging results depend only and how the clinicians manage the diagnostic procedure: it depends only a little on the contrast medium, it mostly depends on the scientific knowledge of clinical staff: doctors, technicians and physicists. If everyone plays his role in the best way, knowing that the imaging result is strictly related to the vascular biomechanics, (which has to be deeply known), a global positive result is achieved.