Key result
The Protego shielding system without personal lead aprons yielded a median radiation exposure of 0.4 mrems at the thyroid and 0.2 mrems at the waist across 98 cardiac catheterization cases.
Why the study?
Invasive cardiologists face occupational health hazards from radiation exposure and the orthopedic burden of wearing lead aprons, warranting innovations to reduce these risks.
Does the Protego TM comprehensive radiation shielding system provide sufficient radiation protection to eliminate the need for personal lead aprons during cardiac catheterization?
Observational (n=98)
Does the Protego TM comprehensive radiation shielding system provide sufficient radiation protection to eliminate the need for personal lead aprons during cardiac catheterization?
The Protego TM shield system provides excellent radiation protection for operators during cardiac catheterization, potentially eliminating the orthopedic burden of personal lead aprons.
May offer apron-free radiation protection in cath labs; leaves open need for randomized trials before adoption.
Objectives This clinical study evaluated the efficacy of a novel radiation shielding system for the cardiac catheterization laboratory designed to provide comprehensive protection that obviates the need for personal lead aprons. Background Invasive Cardiologists are exposed to occupational health hazards related directly to radiation exposure (RE) and indirectly to the orthopedic burden of wearing only partially protective lead aprons. Innovations to reduce these risks are warranted. A novel comprehensive shielding system (Protego TM , Image Diagnostics Inc, Fitchburg, Ma) has been validated in pre‐clinical studies to provide excellent radiation protection, sufficient for the State of Michigan to certify it for use without need for personal lead aprons. Methods This clinical analysis measured RE to a single Physician operator utilizing the Protego TM shield (and not wearing personal lead apron) during routine cardiac catheterization procedures (diagnostic and interventional). RE was measured at both thyroid and waist level with a real‐time dosimetry system (Raysafe TM , Billdal, Sweden), calculated on a median per case basis (mrems). Additional parameters collected included procedure type, access site, per case fluoroscopy time, and patient factors including body mass index. Results In n=98 cases (25% diagnostic, 75% interventional including 22% chronic total occlusions), median/case RE was 0.4 mrems (thyroid) and 0.2 mrems (waist). RE=0 in 12 cases. In no case did radiation exposure exceed 3.2 mrems. Conclusion The Protego TM shield system provides excellent RE protection to the Physician operator, without the need for personal lead aprons and has the potential to reduce catheterization laboratory occupational health hazards.
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Rabah et al. (2022) conducted an observational in Cardiac catheterization (n=98). Protego comprehensive shielding system was evaluated on Radiation exposure at thyroid and waist level. The Protego shielding system without personal lead aprons yielded a median radiation exposure of 0.4 mrems at the thyroid and 0.2 mrems at the waist across 98 cardiac catheterization cases.
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