Radioprotection for Interventional Echocardiographers: A Consensus Statement of the Italian Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging
Abstract
The interventional echocardiographer (IE) plays a crucial role in structural heart interventions, yet faces significant risks from ionizing radiation, often greater than those encountered by the primary interventional cardiologist (IC). This elevated exposure is due to the IE's close proximity to the patient's head and, consequently, to the X-ray source, combined with a general lack of dedicated protective equipment designed for their position. Despite growing awareness of radiation safety in the catheterization lab, the specific protection needs of IEs remain under-recognized. Recent studies have shown that IEs can receive up to 11 times more radiation than ICs during procedures guided by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), such as transcatheter edge-to-edge repair or left atrial appendage closure. These findings, together with the recent reduction in recommended dose thresholds for deterministic effects like cataract formation, emphasize the urgent need to implement effective protective measures. Radiation exposure can be significantly reduced by following the core principles of radiation safety: time, distance, and shielding. Key strategies include optimizing the IE's position based on expected fluoroscopic projections, using dedicated mobile or ceiling-mounted shields, adopting lightweight personal protective equipment, and encouraging the use of low-dose imaging protocols. Ongoing education and training, targeted not only at IEs but also at ICs, is essential to…
Read the paper
Related studies
- Characterization and Analysis of Porosity and Pore Structures
- Practical considerations for conducting ecotoxicity test methods with manufactured nanomaterials: what have we learnt so far?
- Dental Optical Coherence Tomography
- Radiation-shielding concrete: A review of materials, performance, and the impact of radiation on concrete properties
- Testing entanglement of annihilation photons
- Calanus finmarchicus seasonal cycle and diapause in relation to gene expression, physiology, and endogenous clocks
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.