In plain language
In a survey of 31 Lithuanian interventional cardiologists, aprons were universal but eyewear, caps, thyroid collars and collimation were often unused. Operators reporting dose-optimization techniques had lower patient doses.
At a glance
- Type of study
- Original research, Cross-sectional survey
- Who was studied
- Interventional cardiologists, Patients
- Size
- n = 31 interventional cardiologists
- Where
- Lithuania
- Topics
- Personal protective equipmentRoom shielding and protective devicesDose reduction techniquesSafety culture and compliancePatient dose
- Summary based on
- the abstract
What it found
Protective eyewear and radioprotective caps were used by a minority of operators, and thyroid collars were not universally used, although aprons were.
Key figures: eyewear 35.5% (n = 11); caps 12.9% (n = 4)
Most operators used overhanging shields; fewer used portable barriers.
Key figures: ceiling shields 83.9% (n = 26); portable barriers 58.1% (n = 18)
Dose-optimization techniques such as collimation, reduced frame rate and high table position were underused.
Key figures: collimation 35.5%; frame rate reduction 58.1%; high table 35.5%
Median effective patient doses were significantly lower among operators using x-ray optimization techniques.
Survey participation covered about two thirds of Lithuanian interventional cardiologists.
Key figures: 31 of 45 (68.9%)
Limits to keep in mind
Self-reported questionnaire in a small national sample of 31 operators; dose comparison used patient dose rather than measured operator dose, and effect sizes are not reported in the abstract.
Related research summaries
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- Radiation protection practices in diagnostic and interventional cardiology: Position paper from Portuguese Association of Interventional Cardiology (2025, Guideline or consensus statement)
- Radiation Safety in Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (2025, Narrative review)
- Radiation Exposure, Training, and Safety in Cardiology (2024, Narrative review)
- Radiation safety program for the cardiac catheterization laboratory (2011, Guideline or consensus statement)
How this summary was made
ORSIF prepared this summary with AI assistance from the abstract of the paper. A program then checked that the passage supporting each finding appears word for word in that source. A person has not yet reviewed each summary, so read the original before relying on a number. ORSIF summarizes research and does not endorse any product or company. Report a problem with this summary.
Prepared November 3, 2026.