How to Protect from Scatter Radiation during Vascular Surgery
ALL Fluoro-guided Procedures Produce Scatter Radiation
Some interventional procedures result in significantly more scatter radiation than others. Differentiating factors include: complexity of procedure, total fluoro time, size of patient, and operator proximity to the primary beam/image intensifier.
Minimally invasive interventional procedures lower costs and risks for patients. Ironically, physicians put themselves at greater risk and pay
a personal high price in radiation exposure multiple times every day.
Start protecting your health, your team, and your career today with lead-free radiation protection products. Sterile shields are placed on the patient to stop scatter radiation at the source. By standing in the “shade” created by the shield, the physician is able to reduce his exposure to radiation.
Peripheral Shield Placements for Vascular Surgery & Cardiothoracic Surgery
Interventional Peripheral Shields provide excellent protection during any peripheral procedure. The added length of the shield allows the physician to work along the entire length of the limb while fully protected. It is available in an absorbent covering due to the volume of fluids associated with these procedures. The physician should always position the shield between himself and the primary beam.
Abdominal Peripheral Shields provide excellent protection during AAA and TAVR procedures. These procedures require
staff on both sides of the patient, and with two shields provide excellent protection. (see illustration for proper placement).
The Lower-extremity Peripheral Shield is correctly positioned along the length of the limb, near the area of interest and out of
the primary beam. The shield is designed to drape down to the table top to protect the physician from scatter emanating from
the side of the patient. Usual entry is at the patient’s right femoral
The physician may cross over and fluoro down the left leg (opposite leg). If this is the case, place the shield so that it covers a portion of the left leg that is closest to the physician, but do not place the shield in the primary beam. The shield will cover the area between the patient’s legs and part of the patient’s right leg.
Why Protect from Scatter Radiation?
ALL radiation doses are cumulative and multiple low-level procedures each day put doctors, nurses and techs in a potentially harmful situation.
For this reason, clinically proven shields are available in a wide spectrum of protection levels, from 50% to 95% at 90kVp to drastically reduce scatter radiation in every interventional procedure.
Procedure-specific shields absorb radiation and create a shade zone in which clinicians can work and be completely protected from scatter radiation.
Safety standards require that radiation exposure to medical personnel be As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA). The commitment to use lead-free shields in conjunction with established imaging safety protocol, is a recognized & invaluable solution to meet this directive with confidence.
Download a portfolio of clinical summaries from recent studies involving scatter radiation protection for Fluoro-guided Procedures.
Count on Vital Care Products to follow industry trends, healthcare mandates and to identify and introduce vital, cost-effective, risk-reducing solutions that benefit patients and clinicians. For more information call 800 837 5511 or email sales@10d514a.netsolhost.com.