Dr. Rizik urges universal adoption of radiation shields like those used at HonorHealth during cardiac catheterization interventions
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — March 12, 2024 — Dr. David G. Rizik, medical director of the Cardiovascular Research Division of HonorHealth Research Institute, is urging the nationwide adoption of radiation shields to protect doctors, nurses and medical technicians, during his presentation at today’s annual Cardiovascular Research Technologies (CRT) meeting in Washington, D.C.
CRT is one of the world’s premier medical forums on new cardiovascular technology and procedures for physicians and healthcare professionals, focusing on new clinical trial data, evidence-based research and the most up-to-date cardiovascular treatment techniques.
Dr. Rizik’s call to reduce radiation exposure during cardiac catheterization interventions is based on a three-year clinical trial study released today at CRT of nearly 500 patients at HonorHealth Research Institute in Scottsdale. The study led by Dr. Rizik found that radiation shields resulted in no detectable radiation exposure to staff in more than 70% of cardiac catheterization procedures, and that overall radiation exposure was reduced by greater than 99%.
“We’ve known about this for decades and yet we have not done anything to improve workplace safety in the cardiac catheterization laboratory,” said Dr. Rizik, one of the nation’s leaders in non-surgical methods of fixing damaged hearts. “It’s time for us to get with it, and hospitals aren’t doing it.”
Institute adopts radiation shields
In March 2023, a similar but smaller study led by Dr. Rizik, published in the Journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (JSCAI), led to HonorHealth Research Institute becoming one of the first healthcare providers in the U.S. — and the first in Arizona — to use an advanced radiation protection system called ProtegoTM, made by Image Diagnostics Inc., as part of the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.
Modern cardiac catheterization laboratories use multiple X-ray beams from different angles to produce high-quality images of the heart, major arteries and other tissues. These low-level radiation beams enable physicians to guide catheters and other devices during interventional cardiology procedures, which are non-surgical, catheter-based therapies for patients who do not require open-heart surgery.
While generally considered safe, repeated exposure to low-level radiation over time presents a cancer and other medical risks to doctors, nurses and other catheterization laboratory staff. Current standard radiation protection for operating room personnel — a lead apron — offers no protection to the head and face, with suboptimal shielding of the extremities, creating a potential risk of cataracts and certain cancers. In addition, the weight of the lead apron has been associated with orthopedic injury of the spine, hips and knees.
Radiation shields function as a radioprotective wall between the x-ray source and the operators.
Radiation significantly reduced, study says
The study released today — Comprehensive Radiation Shield Minimizes Operator Radiation Exposure In Coronary and Structural Heart Procedures — concludes that the shield used in the study “provides exceptional total body RE (radiation exposure) protection for operators performing both coronary and structural heart procedures. This shield allows procedural performance without the need for personal lead aprons and has potential to reduce catheterization laboratory occupational health hazards.”
“One of the challenges we have observed is that Protego is so new, and so different, few people are using it.” Dr. Rizik said.
The reduction in radiation exposure achieved with the system has the potential to improve the health of interventional cardiologists and cardiac catheterization laboratory staff, he said, adding that radiation shields eliminate the need for lead-protective garments, improve mental health by allaying many of the fears of long-term radiation exposure, and he predicted that these improvements could boost the recruitment of physicians, nurses and technologists.
“We are occupationally exposed. It is time to protect ourselves,” Dr. Rizik said.