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Evaluation of radiation dose during pacemaker implantations
V Tsapaki1, A Christou, S Spanodimos
1Department of Cardiology and Radiology, Konstantopoulio General Hospital, 3-5 Agias Olgas Atr, 14233 Nea Ionia, Athens, Greece. virginia@otenet.gr
Radiation Protection Dosimetry
|July 5, 2011
Summary
This study found that patient radiation doses from mobile C-arm fluoroscopy are low. Effective doses are significantly less than those from other interventional cardiology procedures.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Radiology
- Interventional Cardiology
Background:
- Patient radiation dose is a critical consideration in interventional procedures.
- Comparing doses across different interventional cardiology techniques is essential for optimizing patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate patient radiation doses during procedures using a new mobile C-arm fluoroscopy machine.
- To compare these doses with established benchmarks from other interventional cardiology procedures.
Main Methods:
- One hundred twenty-eight procedures were analyzed using a mobile undercouch C-arm machine.
- Cumulative dose (CD) and Kerma-Area product (KAP) were measured; effective dose (E) was estimated.
- Patient parameters including weight, age, kilovoltage, milliampere, and fluoroscopy time were recorded.
Main Results:
- Median cumulative dose was 15.2 mGy, median KAP was 6.3 Gy cm(2), and median fluoroscopy time was 5.2 minutes.
- Median effective dose was 1.1 mSv, comparable to a single lumbar spine X-ray.
- The effective dose was substantially lower than coronary angiography (8 mSv) and electrophysiology studies (6 mSv).
Conclusions:
- Mobile C-arm fluoroscopy delivers a low patient radiation dose.
- Radiation exposure is significantly lower compared to other common interventional cardiology procedures.
- This finding supports the safety profile of this technology in clinical practice.
