Currently, only 4.5% of all interventional cardiologists are female. Recently this has garnered significant attention as the percentage of female medical students continues to increase. Several factors may be leading to the low number of women in this profession including concerns about radiation exposure, especially during child bearing years. Dr. Cindy Grines, noted interventional cardiologist and chair of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions' Women in Innovations (WIN) group, recently penned an article analyzing the potential reasons for these small numbers and discussing new technologies including robotics that may attract new female physicians into the specialty.

"The cath lab of the future is attainable now." In his featured lecture, Dr. Giora Weisz of Shaare Zedek Medical Center discussed how the technologies necessary to improve patient care and reduce cost currently exist and simply need to be integrated together through forward-thinking and innovation. Innovative technologies such as robotic-assisted PCI have the potential to improve patient care while simultaneously reducing the risks of occupational hazards inthe cath lab.

Interventional cardiologists and cath lab teams focus on improving patient outcomes and routinely use new technology to improve procedures. Until recently, little attention was paid to the serious risks interventional cardiologists and cath lab personnel face when performing procedures. In the last year, several studies have emerged highlighting the effects and risks of radiation exposure in the cath lab. This post highlights 5 of the most common occupational hazards in interventional cardiology.

On a monthly basis, we will be featuring a complex robotic PCI case performed by a CorPath user. If you are interested in being featured for an interesting procedure performed using CorPath, please contact your Clinical Account Manager. Successful Robotic-assisted PCI and Stenting of OM2 in setting of AMI Dr. Ryan Madder successfully treated a bifurcation lesion requiring multiple wires and devices using the CorPath System. The system was able to provide robotic precision during stent positioning while simultaneously shielding Dr. Madder from the increased radiation exposure associated with this long case.