How to Reduce Radiation in Cath Labs

Radiation Safety

Without X-ray, performing the advanced, minimally-invasive procedures that have saved countless lives would not be possible. When the focus is so much on the well-being of the patient and the outcome of the procedure, though, it is easy to forget that there are still serious risks involved in using too much radiation.

100 packs of cigarettes?!

You may wonder just how much risk is involved in routine procedures. Looking at the radiation delivered during a routine PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention), the risk of death is equivalent to having smoked 100 packs of cigarettes.

How do these levels impact those whose jobs involve working around radiation every day, such as nurses and technicians?

Alarmingly, these professionals carry nearly the same risk as the operating physician of developing radiation-induced cataracts.

Basic Rules = Reduced Risk

Radiation isn’t easy to understand, and it certainly can’t be summarized in one article. What can be a short-term benefit (being unable to see or feel it in the same way as you do when your skin is sunburnt) is also an enormous long-term risk.

There is good news: following a few basic steps ensures that exposure to excessive radiation is avoidable.

Free infographic / poster

To help keep these rules top-of-mind, we have worked with UKETS to create an easy-to-read summarization poster. It is free to use - send it out to your whole team or print it out and place it on the wall of your lab for everyone’s benefit.

We hope this will be a great tool to help increase radiation safety awareness in hospitals around the world.

Learn more about radiation safety simulation >