In interventional procedures like Fluoroscopy and Angiography, the primary danger to the operator is not the direct beam, but predominantly from scattered radiation generated by the patientʼs body. This creates an invisible field of exposure that surrounds the medical team, often overlooked but constantly present.
Standard lead aprons protect the torso, but the hands remain exposed. Studies show that during image-guided surgeries, a surgeon's hands are often the body parts closest to the radiation source. Without specialized attenuation, the cumulative absorbed dose over a career may increase the risk of radiation-induced skin injury and tissue damage over time.
Standard surgical gloves offer virtually no protection against X-rays. To adhere to the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle, incorporating Radiation Attenuation Gloves into your PPE protocol is one of the most effective PPE solutions to directly reduce absorbed hand dose while maintaining the tactile sensitivity required for surgery.
Radiation Attenuation Gloves are strongly recommended PPE for high-volume operators in:
- Cardiac Cath Labs (Angiography/PCI)
- Interventional Radiology
- Orthopedic Surgery (C-Arm manipulation)
while keeping hands out of the primary beam remains the most effective protection.
