Nine medical societies are calling for updated safety standards to better protect clinicians from radiation exposure and orthopedic strain in cath labs.
In cath labs, clinicians use real-time X-ray imaging to guide catheters and other devices through blood vessels as part of minimally invasive procedures to treat heart attack, stroke and vascular disease. To reduce radiation exposure, clinicians often wear heavy lead or lead-equivalent protection garments that weigh 15 to 20 pounds. Over time, these garments can contribute to chronic neck, back and joint injuries, according to a March 24 news release shared with Becker’s. Roughly two-thirds of interventional cardiologists report musculoskeletal pain related to their work in catheterization labs.
“How we think about radiation safety has been historically guided by the ALARA principle, or ‘as low as reasonably achievable.’ But that approach has proven to be not safe enough for healthcare staff working in fluoroscopic labs,” Robert Riley, MD, chair of the 2025 Summit on Radiation and Orthopedic Risks in Fluoroscopic Labs, said in the release.
“Traditional ALARA principles focused on incomplete methods of minimizing radiation exposure. Additionally, they did not fully account for the orthopedic strain caused by wearing heavy lead protective equipment during long procedures,” Dr. Riley said. “The new framework, ALARA+, calls for responsible protection strategies that are ‘as low and as light as reasonably achievable’ for the entire team.”
“ALARA+: Summit on Radiation and Orthopedic Risks in Fluoroscopic Laboratories,” advocates to accelerate the adoption of modern radiation protection technologies; expand real-time radiation monitoring so clinicians can reduce exposure during procedures; improve education and training on radiation safety; continue technological innovation to protect clinicians in cath labs; and support regulatory and accreditation standards for safer lab environments.
Endorsers include the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, American College of Cardiology, Alliance for Cardiovascular Professionals, American Society of Echocardiography, Heart Rhythm Society, Society of Interventional Radiology, Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery, Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology and the Society for Vascular Surgery.
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