San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
EuroIntervention. 2012 Oct;8(6):658-63. doi: 10.4244/EIJV8I6A103.
Interventional cardiologists are amongst the most intensive radiation users within medicine. To assess the implications of this usage, the "Women In Innovation" Group (WIN) created a web-based survey called "WIN for Safety" distributed through the European Association of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (EAPCI) to all catheterisation laboratory healthcare professionals, enquiring about radiation protection measures, compliance with monitoring, health (orthopaedic issues), radiation-associated problems (cataracts and cancer) and restrictions imposed upon the pregnant female.
In total, there were 615 participants: 72.8% were interventional cardiologists. Most (73.5%) of them were male and 63.3% were aged 31-50 years. A radiation collar badge was used by the majority (64.4%) and the most frequently utilised protective measure was the thyroid shield (87.2%). Potential illnesses related to radiation exposure included 19.5% orthopaedic problems (back/neck/hip pain), 5.5% varicose veins, 2.4% blood count problems and 2.0% cataracts. Notably, an association between orthopaedic problems and years of exposure was found (p=0.001). Overall, only 2.2% had ever been diagnosed with a cancer, with a trend for more females to be affected (4.4% vs. 1.8%; p=0.067). Finally, 62.1% have restrictions imposed upon the pregnant female in the working environment.
Awareness of radiation in the field of interventional cardiology is essential. The main risk is orthopaedic problems and measures should be taken for prevention. Cancer has not been demonstrated to be a direct consequence; however, we should remain vigilant and monitor individuals.
介入心脏病学家是医学领域中使用辐射最多的人群之一。为了评估这种使用的影响,“女性创新”组织(WIN)创建了一个名为“WIN for Safety”的网络调查,通过欧洲经皮冠状动脉介入治疗协会(EAPCI)分发给所有导管实验室医疗保健专业人员,询问辐射防护措施、监测合规性、健康(骨科问题)、与辐射相关的问题(白内障和癌症)以及对孕妇的限制。
共有 615 名参与者:72.8%为介入心脏病学家。他们中的大多数(73.5%)是男性,63.3%年龄在 31-50 岁之间。大多数人(64.4%)使用辐射颈圈徽章,最常用的防护措施是甲状腺屏蔽(87.2%)。与辐射暴露相关的潜在疾病包括 19.5%的骨科问题(背部/颈部/臀部疼痛)、5.5%的静脉曲张、2.4%的血细胞计数问题和 2.0%的白内障。值得注意的是,发现骨科问题与暴露年限之间存在关联(p=0.001)。总体而言,只有 2.2%的人曾被诊断患有癌症,女性中这种情况的比例更高(4.4%比 1.8%;p=0.067)。最后,62.1%的人在工作环境中对孕妇有限制。
介入心脏病学领域对辐射的认识至关重要。主要风险是骨科问题,应采取预防措施。尚未证明癌症是直接后果;然而,我们应该保持警惕并监测个体。