Radiation Exposure Among Scrub Technologists and Nurse Circulators During Cardiac Catheterization: The Impact of Accessory Lead Shields.

OBJECTIVES

This study was performed to determine if the use of an accessory lead shield is associated with a reduction in radiation exposure among staff members during cardiac catheterization.

BACKGROUND

Accessory lead shields that protect physicians from scatter radiation are standard in many catheterization laboratories, yet similar shielding for staff members is not commonplace.

METHODS

Real-time radiation exposure data were prospectively collected among nurses and technologists during 764 consecutive catheterizations. The study had 2 phases: in phase I (n = 401), standard radiation protection measures were used, and in phase II (n = 363), standard radiation protection measures were combined with an accessory lead shield placed between the staff member and patient. Radiation exposure was reported as the effective dose normalized to dose-area product (E).

RESULTS

Use of an accessory lead shield in phase II was associated with a 62.5% lower E per case among technologists (phase I: 2.4 [4.3] μSv/[mGy × cm] × 10; phase II: 0.9 [2.8] μSv/[mGy × cm] × 10; p < 0.001) and a 63.6% lower E per case among nurses (phase I: 1.1 [3.1] μSv/[mGy × cm] × 10; phase II: 0.4 [1.8] μSv/[mGy × cm] × 10; p < 0.001). By multivariate analysis, accessory shielding remained independently associated with a lower E among both technologists (34.2% reduction; 95% confidence interval: 20.1% to 45.8%; p < 0.001) and nurses (36.4% reduction; 95% confidence interval: 19.7% to 49.6%; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The relatively simple approach of using accessory lead shields to protect staff members during cardiac catheterization was associated with a nearly two-thirds reduction in radiation exposure among nurses and technologists.