How Has the Increasing Number and Complexity of Transcatheter Cardiac Interventions Impacted Operator Health?

The demands and hazards of working in the cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) are well-represented in the literature and include radiation exposure, orthopedic injuries, and physical and psychological stress.

This analysis reports the results of a 2023 SCAI member survey on occupational hazards in the CCL, focusing on orthopedic injuries, cancer diagnoses, and pregnancy-related issues, and discusses the action needed to improve the safety and well-being of operators and CCL staff. 

Watch the Conversation

SCAI Leaders—Dr. David Rizik, Dr. James Hermiller, Dr. Andrew Klein, and Dr. Islam Abudayyeh—explore the significant hazards faced by interventional cardiologists in the catheterization lab (CCL), including radiation exposure, orthopedic injuries, and the physical and psychological stress associated with the profession.

They emphasize the moral imperative to improve workplace safety, advocating for systemic changes that prioritize physician well-being, enhance long-term career sustainability, and ultimately improve patient care.

All authors: Islam Abudayyeh, MD, MPH, FSCAI; Allison G. Dupont, MD, FSCAI; James B. Hermiller, MD, MSCAI; Justine Mascarenhas, MSc; Poonam Velagapudi, MD, MS, FSCAI; Nkechinyere N. Ijioma, MBBS, FSCAI; Peter L. Duffy, MD, FSCAI; Daniel M. Kolansky, MD, FSCAI; Joaquin Cigarroa, MD, MSCAI; Dawn C. Scantlebury, MBBS, DM, FSCAI; Kimberly Skelding, MD, FSCAI; and Andrew J. Klein, MD, FSCAI.