To evaluate the impact of suspended lead suits on occupational radiation exposure among interventional echocardiographers during left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedures.
Key Findings:
Median head-level radiation dose was 0 μSv with suspended lead suits vs 11 μSv with traditional lead aprons.
60% of procedures with suspended lead suits had undetectable radiation exposure, compared to none with traditional lead aprons.
30% of procedures with traditional lead aprons had exposure of at least 20 μSv, while none with suspended lead suits did.
Even after adjusting for procedural radiation use, exposure remained lower with suspended lead suits (0.0 μSv/Gy × cm² vs 0.6 μSv/Gy × cm²).
Interpretation:
The use of suspended lead suits significantly reduces occupational radiation exposure for interventional echocardiographers during LAAO procedures, which is critical given the associated long-term health risks.
Limitations:
The study was conducted at a single institution, limiting generalizability.
Focus was solely on LAAO procedures, which may not reflect outcomes in other structural heart interventions.
Further multicenter studies are needed to assess variability and cost-effectiveness.
Conclusion:
Suspended lead suits may offer a safer alternative to traditional lead aprons in reducing radiation exposure during LAAO procedures, warranting further investigation.
