A New Device to Markedly Reduce Cardiac Cath Lab Radiation Levels

Background: Exposure of the heart team to scatter radiation is a serious environmental risk in the cardiac cath lab. While spot shielding reduces operator exposure, its effectiveness in reducing overall room scatter radiation (SR) levels, particularly during imaging with angulated x-ray views, is limited. We evaluated the effectiveness of a new, passive protection system (the EggNest) to reduce overall personnel exposure using x-ray projections commonly used for coronary and structural heart procedures. The system is composed of a carbon fiber sled that replaces the x-ray table patient mattress in combination with radiation shielding that moves passively with the x-ray system and the patient.