Table 2.
Exposure Risk and Needed PPE During Cardiovascular Imaging in the COVID-19 Era
| CV Imaging Procedure |
Exposure Type |
Personal Protective Equipment |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| No Symptoms Suggestive of COVID-19 | Confirmed/Suspected/Recovering COVID-19 | ||
| Cardiovascular CT/CMR | Droplet/contact | Surgical mask + gloves | Surgical mask + face shield + gown + gloves∗ |
| Pharmacological stress (SPECT/PET/CMR) | Droplet/contact | Surgical mask + gloves | Surgical mask + face shield + gown + gloves∗ |
| TTE/pharmacological stress echocardiography | Droplet with close contact (face-to-face) | Surgical mask + face shield + gloves |
Surgical mask + face shield + gown + gloves∗ |
| Exercise test (SPECT/echocardiography/treadmill/MVO2)∗ | Possible aerosol generating | †N95 or N99 mask + face shield + appropriate surgical gown + gloves OR Reusable PAPR + surgical gown + gloves | Alternate test recommended (or MVo2 postponed) |
| TEE∗ | Aerosol generating | †N95 or N99 mask + face shield + appropriate surgical gown + gloves OR Reusable PAPR + surgical gown + gloves | N95 or N99 mask + face shield + appropriate surgical gown + gloves OR Reusable PAPR + surgical gown + gloves |
CMR = cardiac magnetic resonance; CT = computed tomography; CV = cardiovascular; MVO2 = myocardial oxygen consumption during exercise; PAPR = powered air-purifying respirator; PET = positron emission tomography; SPECT = single-photon emission tomography; TTE = transthoracic echocardiography; other abbreviations as in Table 1.
∗
For safety, test is best performed in a negative-pressure room with a good air exchange.
†
COVID-19 testing is currently at most 80% to 85% sensitive; an N95 or N99 mask or reusable PAPR is currently still advised for optimal protection.