Lead aprons and thyroid collars are important during procedures involving fluoroscopy because they reduce exposure to ionizing X-ray radiation, which can accumulate over a healthcare worker’s career.
Here are the main reasons:
- Protects against scattered radiation: During fluoroscopy, X-rays pass through the patient, and some of that radiation scatters into the operating room. Surgeons, nurses, anesthetists, and technologists are exposed to this scattered radiation.
- Reduces cancer risk: Repeated exposure to ionizing radiation increases the long-term risk of developing cancers. Lead shielding significantly lowers the dose absorbed by the body.
- Protects the thyroid gland: The thyroid is particularly sensitive to radiation. A lead thyroid collar helps reduce the risk of thyroid cancer and other thyroid disorders caused by cumulative radiation exposure.
- Protects radiosensitive organs: A lead apron shields the chest, abdomen, pelvis, and reproductive organs, which contain tissues that are more susceptible to radiation damage.
- Supports occupational safety standards: Regulatory agencies and professional organizations require or strongly recommend appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) whenever personnel are exposed to fluoroscopy. Wearing lead aprons and thyroid collars is a key component of the ALARA principle—keeping radiation exposure As Low As Reasonably Achievable.
Additional best practices during fluoroscopic procedures include:
- Standing as far from the X-ray source as practical, since radiation intensity decreases rapidly with distance.
- Minimizing fluoroscopy time.
- Using movable lead shields when available.
- Wearing a personal radiation dosimeter (badge) to monitor cumulative exposure.
- Positioning yourself on the image intensifier (detector) side of the C-arm rather than the X-ray tube side when possible, as scatter radiation is generally lower there.
Together, lead aprons and thyroid collars are essential PPE that help protect healthcare personnel from the cumulative effects of occupational radiation exposure while allowing fluoroscopy to be used safely during surgical procedu