Guidelines for radiation protection in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

Even though radiation levels in the catheterization laboratory are the highest encountered during any commonly performed diagnostic study, dose levels to laboratory personnel should not approach the maximum permissible. A certain minimum amount of radiation is necessary to produce optimal diagnostic images. Therefore, optimum use of radiation protection devices and measures is essential. The goal should be dose minimization, keeping personnel radiation dose as low as reasonably achievable. In the cardiac angiographic suite this goal can be assumed to have been accomplished if: (1) maximum use is made of suitable radiation protection devices, (2) film-and video-imaging chains are optimized, (3) good radiographic technique is employed, (4) strict ongoing quality control programs are maintained for radiographic equipment and cine processor, and (5) there is compliance with all federal, state and local regulations for the safe use of ionizing radiation.