The Radiation ProtEction for Dose RedUction in the Cardiac CathEter Lab Study: The REDUCE Trial

Recent decades have seen major increases in x-ray guided procedures in interventional cardiology, radiology and vascular surgery. Exposure to ionising radiation is known to be an inherent risk and remains a serious and unresolved threat to the health of operators and their team. It is associated with an increased incidence of brain and blood cancers, cataracts, and recent mechanistic data indicates significantly increased DNA damage in those without leaded leg protection.

Although existing standard radiation protection measures somewhat reduces exposure, all cardiac catheter lab personnel still receive a certain dose of radiation and continue to accumulate lifetime exposure. Furthermore, leaded personal protective equipment is heavy, leads to orthopaedic complications, and detracts from operator comfort.

Novel radiation protection devices such as RAMPART may significantly reduce radiation doses to cardiac catheter lab personnel, and potentially allow the use of lighter lead, or no lead at all. In this study we aim to investigate if use of RAMPART significantly reduces radiation exposure, when compared with standard radiation protection. Standard coronary intervention procedures will be randomised to RAMPART or standard (radiation protection), and operators and Cath lab team doses will be compared.

Inclusion criteria

• All procedures involving adult patients (>18 year of age)
• Male or female patients
• Planned to undergo either an elective or urgent coronary intervention procedure involving ionising radiation in the cardiac catheter lab, via the right and or left radial arteries.

Exclusion criteria

• Procedures involving patients less than 18 years of age
• Patients unable to give valid consent
• Pregnancy
• Femoral approach procedure