title: Assessment of clinical occupational dose reduction effect of a new interventional cardiology shield for radial access combined with a scatter reducing drape.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the occupational dose reduction effect of a new interventional cardiology shield for radial access combined with a scatter reducing drape.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Transradial access for catheterization has been shown to increase occupational radiation dose. Current shielding techniques are primarily based on the femoral access. This article looks at the clinical occupational combined dose reduction effect of a commercially available shield and drape which is specific to access type.
  
  
  METHODS
  The evaluation took place in a busy interventional cardiology laboratory, with a single plane 30×40 cm flat panel detector (Siemens Artis Zee, Germany). Radiation exposure to staff was measured using electronic personal dosimeters (Unfors RaysafeAB, Sweden) placed at the collar. Patient radiation exposure was assessed using screening time and dose area product per case. Both staff and patient radiation exposure were monitored for a number of case types and operators before, during, and after deployment of the new shield and drapes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cardiologists' overall median collar badge reading per case reduced from 15.4 μSv per case without the shield/drape combination to 7.3 μSv per case with the shield drape combination in situ (P<0.001). The radiographers badge reading was reduced from 4.2 μSv per case without to 2.5 μSv per case with the shield drape combination in situ (P<0.001). There was no statistical difference in the cardiac technician's badge reading. Patient's dose area product was not significantly affected by the placement of the shield and drape combination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The shield/drape combination can significantly reduce operator exposure in a cardiac catheterization laboratory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Mater Private Hospital, Dublin 7, Ireland.
authors.forename: Paddy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gilligan
authors.affiliation: School of Physics, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin 8, Ireland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.affiliation: Department for Radiation Protection, Bavarian Office for Occupational Health and Safety, München, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eder
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Mater Private Hospital, Dublin 7, Ireland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maguire
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Mater Private Hospital, Dublin 7, Ireland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Mater Private Hospital, Dublin 7, Ireland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Mater Private Hospital, Dublin 7, Ireland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Casserly
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Mater Private Hospital, Dublin 7, Ireland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Mater Private Hospital, Dublin 7, Ireland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Foley
mesh_terms: D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002309:Cardiology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel; D009726:Nurses; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D010820:Physicians; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007854:Lead; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate
keywords: CATB-catheterization; CATH-catheterization; IAF-imaging; RADI-radiation; angiographic/fluoroscopic; brachial/radial/ulnar; diagnostic; physics/dosimetry