EAPCI Women Committee - Radiation Exposure in European Catheterization Laboratories

Dear Colleagues,

From the previous survey performed one year ago, it appears that both women and men consider that the burden of workload and the overall risk linked to radiation exposure hamper women from a career in interventional cardiology. Frequently, the “risk of a pregnancy” associated to young females cardiologists discourage catheterization laboratories directors to choose them for a fellowship and above all for a permanent position. Moreover laws about radiation exposure, and maximum allowed doses could vary from one country to another. Likewise, regulations for professionally exposed workers also vary between countries. Moreover the latest reports on personnel radiation doses date back more than 10 years. Modern fluoroscopy machines as well as radiation protection strategies have evolved, as awareness among interventional community of potential stochastic and deterministic risks for patient and operator.

One of the purposes of this survey is to inquire gender ratio in direction of catheterization laboratories and medical and paramedical personals working in catheterization laboratories, know the proportion of coronary/ peripheral/structural and EPU procedures performed in European catheterization laboratories. The second aim is to assess real radiation exposure, protection, mean of measurement and educational program proposed and/or required as well as the level of awareness about radiation protection. The real-life practice for pregnant cath-lab staff need also to be clarified.

Thank you in advance for your collaboration by answering this survey.

The EAPCI Women Committee