The recent publication of several reports on risk of cataract, left sided brain tumors, subclinical atherosclerosis and chromosome damage among interventional cardiologists has raised increasing concerns about radiation exposure in the cath lab. Recognizing these risks has created a demand of these new forms of protection. Unfortunately, these have mainly been focused on the main operator,…
Higher Radiation Dose in Patients and Operators with Radial Approach (RAD-MATRIX Dosimeter)
Both physicians and patients are exposed to higher radiation doses during radial access PCI compared to femoral, according to this large contemporary study on high volume PCI operators of ACS patients. Even though the difference in radiation exposure was relatively small for patients (approximately 10% higher for radial PCI) this translated into double the…