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

Background: 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.

Methods: 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.

Results: There were no significant differences between groups with respect to patient or procedural characteristics, including air kerma ( = .97) and dose area product ( = .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 ( < .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 ( < .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 ( < .001).

Conclusions: 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.