Radiation protection for the interventional cardiologist: Practical approach and innovations
Alejandro Gutiérrez, Dolores Cañadas, Inmaculada Noval‐Morillas, Livia Gheorghe, Ricardo Zayas‐Rueda, Germán Calle-Pérez
Abstract
Use of ionizing radiation during cardiac catheterization interventions adversely impacts both the patients and medical staff. In recent years, radiation dose in cardiac catheterization interventions has become a topic of increasing interest in interventional cardiology and there is a strong interest in reducing radiation exposure during the procedures. This review presents the current status of radiation protection in the cardiac catheterization laboratory and summarizes a practical approach for radiation dose management for minimizing radiation exposure. This review also presents recent innovations that have clinical potential for reducing radiation during cardiac interventions.