Assessment of Interventional Radiology Safety Practices at Tertiary Hospitals in Enugu State, South East Nigeria

Interventional radiology procedures expose both patients and operating radiographers to significant radiation doses, and the implementation of robust safety practices including lead shielding, radiation monitoring, sterile field maintenance, and sedation monitoring is essential for procedural safety in tertiary hospital settings. At tertiary hospitals in Enugu State, South East Nigeria, the safety practices associated with interventional radiology procedures warrant systematic evaluation. This study assesses interventional radiology safety practices at tertiary hospitals in Enugu State, specifically at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital and Enugu State University Teaching Hospital. A cross-sectional observational design is employed, combining structured safety observation across 45 interventional procedures with a structured questionnaire administered to 38 radiographers and interventional radiologists. Safety dimensions evaluated include lead shielding usage, radiation dose area product monitoring, sterile technique compliance, sedation monitoring adequacy, and adverse event documentation. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests are computed in SPSS. Literature from South East Nigerian interventional radiology settings identifies inconsistent dosimetry monitoring and absence of structured adverse event reporting as the primary procedural safety deficiencies. The RCR Standards for Interventional Radiology and the IAEA Safety Standards for Fluoroscopy provide the normative reference. Findings are expected to reveal adequate sterile technique compliance alongside radiation monitoring and adverse event reporting deficiencies. Recommendations address formal interventional radiology safety checklists, mandatory personal dosimetry monitoring, and adverse event reporting systems at both Enugu State tertiary radiology departments. Keywords: interventional radiology, safety practices, Enugu State, tertiary hospitals, South East Nigeria.