‘Shed the Lead’ and the Injuries. Should Cath Labs Go Lead-Free?

Pregnancy Safe in the Cath Lab

Dr. Sutton reiterated his point: “The number-one message that I want to get across is that it is considered safe for the unborn baby, being in the cath lab, under lead,” she said, noting that there are very good data that the amount of lead that is required by states results in negligible radiation exposure to the developing fetus.

She had her children before working in the cath lab, “but I’ve heard from other women: It’s heavy and its sweaty for prolonged periods of time, but it can be done and you can get through it,” she said. Although the promise of radiation protection systems “is exciting, we have to approach this with some level of caution or awareness,” she said. “Cardiologists come from a cardiology background. We are not radiologists who go through a radiology residency, like IRs do. They get a lot of training on radiation exposure and what it means,” Dr. Sutton stressed.

Dr. Kereiakes, for his part, remains enthusiastic. He returned to the cath lab in August, just 6 months after his brush with near quadriplegia. “This is what I’ve spent my life doing and I love doing it, and I’m not ready to quit.”

Dr. Hermiller, Dr. Kereiakes, and Dr. Sutton reported having no relevant financial conflicts of interest.
 

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.