Radiologic technologists in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory
Who they are, what they do and which devices they use: a research-based profile for recruiting this target group for MedTech and pharma projects.
Overview
Radiologic technologists carry out examinations and treatments with ionising radiation on medical order and prepare interventions. In angiography and interventions they check contraindications in advance, such as impaired renal function, anticoagulants, thyroid disease and contrast allergies, and assist with catheter insertion. They operate fluoroscopy and assess images for technical quality. Radiation protection for patients and staff, including dosimetry and quality checks, is a core part of their profession. In the cath lab they belong to the assistant staff alongside nurses and other assistant professions.
Profession by country
Fields of use and typical tasks
Cardiac catheterization lab
- Review history, labs, prior imaging and allergies, check consent and preparation and take part in the time-out
- Select imaging protocols, position patient and equipment, initiate exposures and post-process images, for example roadmapping and subtraction
- Minimise radiation exposure to patients and staff, document dose metrics and compare them with reference levels
- Set up and operate the contrast injector and manifold, calibrate pressure transducers
- Monitor vital signs and ECG and record procedural data on injections, haemodynamics, medication and complications
- Scrub in, drape the access site and prepare medications such as anticoagulants and emergency drugs as ordered
Specializations
Devices and systems they use
Who they work with
- Interventional specialist physicians
- Cath lab nurses
- Surgical and anaesthesia technical assistants
- Medical assistants
Frequently asked questions
What do they check before a catheter examination?
Contraindications such as impaired renal function, blood thinners, thyroid disease and iodine allergy, usually in a meeting with the specialists.
Who is responsible for radiation protection in the team?
Radiation protection is considered the most important area of the profession: they implement protective measures for patients and staff and check them with dosimetry and quality controls.
What is their role during an intervention?
They assist with catheter insertion, operate fluoroscopy and assess image quality while stenoses are treated with balloon or stent.
Which professions share assistance in the cath lab with them?
Nurses, surgical and anaesthesia technical assistants, and medical assistants.
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Related target groups
Same work area
Same specialty
Sources
- Berufsbild Radiologietechnologe, Klinikum Wels-Grieskirchen GmbH (AT)
- Berufsbild MTR, Klinikum Lippe GmbH, MT-Schule Lippe (DE)
- Arbeitsplatzbeschreibung Herzkatheterlabor, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kardiologie (DGK), Sektion Assistenz und Pflegepersonal in der Kardiologie (DE)
- Cardiac Interventional Radiography Task Inventory, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) (US)
- Cardiac Interventional Radiography Clinical Experience Requirements, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) (US)
- Postprimary Pathway: Cardiac Interventional Radiography, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) (US)
- Cath Lab Spotlight: UW Health University Hospital, Cath Lab Digest (HMP Global), Beitrag des Herzkatheterteams der UW Health University Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin (US)