SCAI consensus document on occupational radiation exposure to the pregnant cardiologist and technical personnel.
Concerns regarding radiation exposure and its effects during pregnancy are often quoted as an important barrier preventing many women from pursuing a career in Interventional Cardiology. Finding the true risk of radiation exposure from performing cardiac catheterisation procedures can be challenging and guidelines for pregnancy exposure have been inadequate. The Women in Innovations group of Cardiologists with endorsement of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions aim to provide guidance in this publication by describing the risk of radiation exposure to pregnant physicians and cardiac catheterisation personnel, to educate on appropriate radiation monitoring and to encourage mechanisms to reduce radiation exposure. Current data do not suggest a significant increased risk to the foetus of pregnant women in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory and thus do not justify precluding pregnant physicians from performing procedures in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory. However, radiation exposure amongst pregnant physicians should be properly monitored and adequate radiation safety measures are still warranted.
Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. best.patricia@mayo.edu
Patricia J M
PJ
Best
Kimberly A
KA
Skelding
Roxana
R
Mehran
Alaide
A
Chieffo
Vijayalakshmi
V
Kunadian
Mina
M
Madan
Ghada W
GW
Mikhail
Fina
F
Mauri
Saeko
S
Takahashi
Junko
J
Honye
Rosana
R
Hernández-Antolín
Bonnie H
BH
Weiner
D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002309:Cardiology; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D012307:Risk Factors; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014965:X-Rays / Q000009:adverse effects