Radiation Doses to the Entire Catheterization Laboratory Team With a Novel Radiation Protection Device

A novel radiation protection system has recently been shown to shield the primary operator from scatter radiation, but whether it shields other members of the catheterization laboratory team remains unknown.

Radiation exposure data were collected prospectively in 50 coronary angiography cases, in which 25 were completed using standard radiation protection and 25 with a novel system consisting of a series of rigid shields and flexible radiation-resistant drapes. Radiation doses, measured with real-time dosimeters, were compared between the 2 groups.

There were no significant differences between groups with respect to patient or procedural characteristics, including air kerma (P = .97) and dose area product (P = .17). The primary operator received a median head-level radiation dose of 0.0 [0.0, 0.0] μSv with the novel radiation protection system and 2.1 [0.7, 3.3] μSv with standard radiation protection (P < .001). Scrub technologists had a median head-level radiation dose of 0.0 [0.0, 0.0] μSv with the novel radiation protection system and 0.3 [0.1, 0.4] μSv with standard radiation protection (P < .001). The median head-level radiation dose among circulating nurses was 0.0 [0.0, 0.0] μSv with the novel radiation protection system and was 0.1 [0.0, 0.2] μSv with standard radiation protection (P < .001).

Compared to standard radiation protection with lead aprons, use of a novel radiation protection system during coronary angiography was associated with significantly lower head-level radiation doses among all members of the catheterization laboratory team.