The Influence of Height on Occupational Radiation Exposure of Interventional Cardiologists During Selective Coronary Angiography Using a Radial Artery Approach

Radiation exposure is one of the most adverse occupational hazards faced by interventional cardiologists. Operator height can influence operator radiation exposure. This single-center retrospective study (n = 534) assessed the cumulative radiation (CR) exposure in μSv and normalized radiation exposure (CR/DAP) using three different ranges of height (short, regular, and tall) of the primary operator at four anatomical locations when using a radial artery approach. A multivariate linear regression analyses for cumulative operator radiation dose found that tall operator height had significantly lesser values than regular operator height for the thorax (p <0.001), abdomen (p = 0.01), left eye (p <0.001), and right eye (p <0.001). Short operator height did not significantly differ from regular operator height. Multivariate linear regression analyses for normalized operator radiation dose found that tall operator height had significantly lesser values than regular operator height for the thorax (p <0.001), abdomen (p = 0.01), left eye (p <0.001), and right eye (p = 0.002). Short operator height did not significantly differ from regular operator height. In conclusion, there was an association of lower operator radiation dose in the thorax, abdomen, left eye, and right eye for tall operators as compared to regular height operators. We recommend regular height operators be exceedingly vigilant with their personal radiation protection techniques. Furthermore, these same protection techniques should be considered with patients that have a higher likelihood of generating greater dose-area-products.