ABSTRACT
Despite its adverse effects, ionizing radiation is necessary for interventionalists to image and treat patients. To minimize the radiation-associated risks for both patients and operators during procedures, operators must understand the sources of radiation and the appropriate measures to protect all parties from those sources. This chapter seeks to help readers understand where radiation comes from in the interventional suite and the key practices to minimize unnecessary exposure to themselves and the patient.
In this chapter, the reader will learn that, despite the obvious radiation source in these settings being the X-ray tube, interventionalists should be primarily concerned with minimizing exposure to “scatter radiation” emanating from X-rays bouncing off their patient. With establishment of this concept, the chapter builds to discuss how the use of wearable and mobile lead shields can be maximized to minimize scatter radiation exposure, as well the appropriate radiation use practices that complement shields as apart of adherence to as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) principles.
