​Radiation Protection in Hybrid Operating Rooms

In the Hybrid Operating Room & Hybrid Cardiac Cath Suite environment, the cooperation between Interventional Cardiologists and Cardiothoracic surgeons has expanded the spectrum of treatment modalities for patients with congenital heart disease. These 'Hybrid' techniques have created new challenges, one of which being the provision of adequate but practical radiation protection.

X-ray radiation is ionizing radiation, thus exposure is potentially harmful. Compared to a mobile C-Arm, which is classically used in surgery, CT scanners and fixed C-Arms work on a much higher energy level, which induces higher dose. Therefore it is very important to monitor radiation dose applied in a Hybrid OR both for the patient and the medical staff.

Radiation & Scatter Protection Methods:​

There are a few simple measures to protect people in the OR from scatter radiation, thus lower their dose. Awareness is one critical issue, otherwise the available protection tools might be neglected. Traditional radiation protection is provided in two manners; wearing lead infused clothing (aprons, thyroid collars, glasses) and mobile lead shielding. New and innovative methods of radiation protection include weightless ceiling suspended mobile aprons and disposable scatter radiation drapes. Below, we highlight all of these radiation protection solutions and provide links to some of the vendors who provide these radiation protection solutions.

Radiation Dose:​

A very effective measure of both protection to both the staff and the patient of course is applying less radiation. There is always a trade-off between radiation dose and image quality. A higher x-ray dose leads to a clearer picture. Modern software technology can improve image quality during post-processing, such that the same image quality is reached with a lower dose. Image quality thereby is described by contrast, noise, resolution and artifacts. In general, the ALARA principle (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) should be followed. Dose should be as low as possible, but image quality can only be reduced to the level that the diagnostic benefit of the examination is still higher than the potential harm to the patient.

There are both technical measures taking by x-ray equipment manufacturers to reduce dose constantly and handling options for the staff to reduce dose depending on the clinical application. Among the former is beam hardening. Among the latter are frame rate settings, pulsed fluoroscopy and collimation.

Unique and innovative radiation dose optimization and reduction solutions ​are being pioneered by each of the major interventional imaging vendors including Philips, Siemens, GE, & Toshiba.​

'ZeroGravity' Radiation Protection System

RADPAD Scatter Radiation Disposable Drapes

​Lead Lined Clothing: Aprons, Thyroid Shields, Glasses

Lead Shields & Lead Barriers

J.M. Keckler Medical Co. - Hybrid Operating Room Consultants

staff@kecklermedical.com - 1.800.523.1010

Keywords: Hybrid Operating Room Radiation Protection, Cardiac Catheterization Lab Radiation Exposure, Hybrid Cath Lab Suite Lead Sheild, Hybrid EP Lab, Hybrid Endovascular Suite, Lead Shielding, Radiation Exposure Measurement, Radiation Safety Requirements, Radiation Safety Regulations, Radiation Protection Sterile Drape, ​