Efficacy of pelvic-abdominal shields in radiation protection of patients undergoing radial coronary angiography: experimental analysis and recommendations for radiology practice.

Objective: To develop and evaluate the use of radiation shields for patients undergoing coronary angiography via the radial approach. Materials and Methods: Two pelvic-abdominal shields were developed-one for the posterior region and one for the anterior region. To analyze the entrance dose and its attenuation through the patient until reaching a detector as residual radiation, two dosimeter strips (right and left) were created and inserted into a phantom. Results: Comparing the shielded and unshielded groups, we found that the radiation doses at all detector positions were significantly higher in the shielded group (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The use of pelvic-abdominal radiation shields made with 0.5 mm of lead is not recommended for patients undergoing interventional cardiology procedures, because it significantly increases radiation exposure and therefore does not comply with the As Low as Reasonably Achievable principle.