Author Archives: Chet R. Rees, MD

This study rigorously compared radioprotective drapes, head supported lead-acrylic face masks, lead head-caps, and Zero-Gravity, during clinical use with patients as well as phantom studies , and using Monte Carlo analysis. Zero-Gravity reduced calculated annual exposure to the brain 6.9 X greater than head-supported lead acrylic face mask, and 10.3 X greater than radioprotective head-cap […]

1 mm Pb “apron” blocks scatter radiation far better than conventional aprons. 1 2 3 4 0.5 mm Pb acrylic head shield wraps around the front and sides of the head, reducing dose to eyes and head far better than lead glasses and mobile shields. 5 6 1 4 Arm flaps and low leg protection […]

Two recent manuscripts (by Fakhoury, et al and Lu, et al) highlight the reduced protection of non-lead aprons, the pervasive problems with labeling compliance and regulations in general, and why we often don’t know if we are shielded. Not all lightweight lead aprons and thyroid shields are alike Fakhoury, et al. J Vasc Surg.Full Text […]

By following some basic practices and using the Zero-Gravity, the radiation dose to the head and eyes of a busy interventionalist was only 8% above natural background. The manuscript also provides some brief information on how to maximally protect the head and eyes by adjusting the settings on the Zero-Gravity to best advantage.  

This excellent study provides further confirmation that attenuating head caps do very little to protect the brain due to their geometry relative to the scatter field. It also confirms older studies showing the poor lens protection provided by leaded glasses, especially to the contrateral (often the right) eye where it is nil. Head and neck […]

TCT-557 Impact of a Suspended Lead Suit on Physician Radiation Doses Across Patient BMI Categories During Coronary Angiography  J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018 Sep, 72 (13_Supplement) B223–B224.  Refahiyat et al. showed a 95.0% reduction in deep dose equivalent [Hp(10)] for Zero-Gravity vs. traditional lead apron in morbidly obese patients in a study of 1,120 consecutive […]

Featured Article: K Fetterly et al. Head and Neck Radiation Dose and Radiation Safety for Interventional Physicians. JACC Vol 10 No 5 2017.  Read more and link to download manuscript. Clinical Evaluation of Protective Garments with Respect to Garment Characteristics and Manufacturer Label Information. Lichliter et al. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2017 Jan;28(1):148-155. doi: 10.1016/j.jvir.2016.08.006.  ISET […]

ABSTRACT: Many different personal radiation protection options are available today for use by interventionalists in their suites. This study examines a variety of options to determine the importance of lead vs. lead-free, back coverage vs. none, and frontal overlap vs. none. Secondary scatter was provided by a stack of acrylic (phantom patient) and exposure was […]

Interventionalists are accustomed to extensive regulations in nearly all aspects of their field, and so are very surprised to discover that the protective quality of their lead aprons is very loosely regulated, resulting in great variation between similarly labeled products. Especially when buying a lightweight non-lead apron, they don’t know what they are getting without complicated […]

Author’s note: This current discussion is intended to be relatively detailed with more specific citation support, and refers to the other link for practical recommendations. A relatively short and practical guide is available at this link: Link to “Lightweight Aprons Exposed” The regulations for testing and labeling of X-ray protective clothing are surprisingly lax (13, […]