Evaluation of a suspended radiation protection system to reduce operator exposure in cardiology interventional procedures.

Objectives: To investigate a novel suspended radiation shield (ZG), in reducing operator radiation exposure during cardiology interventions.

Background: Radiation exposure to the operator remains an occupational health hazard in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

Methods: An anthropomorphic mannequin simulating an operator was placed near a phantom, simulating a patient.

Patient exposure data and operator dose in coronary interventional procedures: Impact of body-mass index and procedure complexity.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess patient exposure data and operator dose in coronary interventional procedures, when considering patient body-mass index and procedure complexity.

Methods: Total air kerma area product (P), Air-Kerma (AK), Fluoroscopy time (FT), operator dose and patient body-mass index (BMI) from 97 patients' procedures (62 coronary angiography (CA) and 35 Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) were collected for one year. For PCI procedures, also the complexity index-CI was collected.