Operator Radiation Protection During Cardiac Catheterization Using Mavig X-ray Protective Drapes®.

Interventional cardiologists are exposed to significant doses of scatter radiation during cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention. Traditional methods of reducing the radiation dose for operators in the cardiac catheterization laboratory include limiting the use of radiation, radiation protection aprons and shields, and the use of lead eye glasses. Despite these measures several parts of the operators body, including the head and neck, are poorly screened from scatter radiation. Radiation protection drapes have been developed for use in cardiac catheterization but no randomized controlled study has yet been performed with the commercially available Mavig X-ray Protective Drapes®. The aim of this study is to evaluate operator radiation protection using Mavig X-ray Protective Drapes®.