SCAI Survey Confirms Radiation and Orthopedic Health Hazards in CCLs

March 10, 2025—The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) recently announced the publication of a survey conducted by SCAI highlighting the ongoing radiation and orthopedic hazards faced by interventional cardiologists and cardiac catheterization lab (CCL) staff. The survey was conducted by SCAI’s Professional Well-Being Committee, which compared data from 2014 to 2023.

According to the society, the survey revealed that significant risks often remain unaddressed despite technological advancements.

The press release stated that “Occupational Health Hazards in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory: Results of the 2023 SCAI Survey” highlights alarming trends in radiation exposure and orthopedic injuries for interventional cardiologists and staff. The document, along with a call to action by SCAI leadership, was published by Islam Abudayyeh, MD, et al, online in JSCAI.

SCAI stated that investigators found that the risks associated with working in the CCL remain unacceptably high. Among the key findings from the survey, the SCAI press release outlined the following:

• Approximately 60% of respondents reported orthopedic injuries caused by wearing lead aprons for hours
• With radiation exposure concerns, the usage of protective equipment remains inconsistent despite their availability
• 6% of respondents reported being diagnosed with cancer
• 17% of respondents admitted to limiting their time in the CCL
• 28% of female interventionalists reported being discouraged from working in the CCL because of pregnancy
• 71% of female interventionalists expressed a desire to step away during pregnancy

The study also proposed concrete steps to mitigate these hazards, including adopting new shielding technologies, reducing reliance on heavy lead aprons, and expanding formal radiation safety education. Additionally, the survey found that available radiation mitigation tools are underutilized because of cost concerns and a lack of administrative support, noted SCAI.

“We cannot afford to ignore these findings,” commented Dr. Abudayyeh, co-chair of SCAI’s Professional Well-Being Committee, in the press release. “At a time when recruitment and retention in interventional cardiology are already challenging, we must ensure that our work environments are not only cutting-edge in terms of patient care but also safe and sustainable for providers.”

Allison Dupont, MD, chair of SCAI’s Professional Well-Being Committee and a coauthor of the study, added, “These data provide an undeniable call to action. The results showed that the preponderance of cancers and other types of radiation injury, such as cataracts, was threefold higher than what is observed in the general population. Hospitals and health care systems need to prioritize investments in advanced protective equipment and safer work environments. We know that new technologies exist that could significantly reduce radiation exposure and orthopedic strain, but we need institutional commitment to make these solutions accessible.”