Occupational exposure to ionizing radiation in pregnant staff. Consensus document of ACI-SEC/ARC-SEC/SERVEI/SENR/SERAM/GeNI

Abstract

The gender gap in interventional subspecialties is largely due to concerns about occupational radiation exposure. The belief that it is not possible to continue working in cath labs during pregnancy is perceived by many female physicians as a barrier to develop their career or fulfill their motherhood wishes. Many physicians are unaware of the doses of ionizing radiation that are harmful for the fetus, which is the dose received by women who continue to work in cath labs throughout their pregnancies, or do not know the existing regulations. The Interventional Cardiology Association of the Spanish Society of Cardiology (ACI-SEC), the Heart Rhythm Association of the Spanish Society of Cardiology (ARC-SEC), the Spanish Society of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (SERVEI), the Spanish Society of Neuroradiology (SENR), the Spanish Society of Medical Radiology (SERAM), and the Society of the Spanish Group of Interventional Neuroradiology (GeNI) consider it necessary to draft this informative document and joint position paper to provide female physicians with the necessary knowledge to make fully informed decisions on whether to choose an interventional subspecialty or work exposed to ionizing radiation during their pregnancy.