A consensus statement endorsed by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, the American College of Cardiology, the American Society of Echocardiography, the Heart Rhythm Society, the Society of Interventional Radiology and the Society for Vascular Surgery argues that enhanced radiation protection devices should be mandatory, not optional, in fluoroscopy laboratories.
The case rests on two harms to staff: ionising radiation, with risks of cancer, cataract and reproductive effects, and the orthopaedic injury caused by years of wearing heavy lead aprons. The statement says adoption of newer shielding systems has been slowed by upfront cost and by exposure thresholds that have not been revised to reflect what these devices can achieve. It does not endorse any particular system, and it places responsibilities on regulators, manufacturers and institutions, alongside training and dose monitoring.
This is advocacy by US societies rather than a regulatory decision. For Indian interventional suites, where lead aprons remain the norm, it is a useful statement of the standard to aim for when equipment is renewed.
- Wear a dosimeter correctly on every case and review your cumulative dose
- Use ceiling-mounted shields and table skirts on every case where installed
- Wear lead eyewear; cataract is the commonest radiation injury in interventional staff
- Include enhanced shielding systems in the case for any new fluoroscopy suite
- Report back or neck pain linked to apron use through occupational health
Why it matters
It reframes staff shielding as an institutional duty rather than a personal choice.
Don't overread it
This is a US multisociety position statement, not a regulatory requirement in India or elsewhere.
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