Impact of StentBoost subtract imaging on patient radiation exposure during percutaneous coronary intervention

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of StentBoost Subtract (SBS) imaging on patient radiation dose during percutaneous coronary intervention. Data were prospectively collected between February 2010 and November 2012 at a tertiary cardiac catheterization. All patients who had scheduled for coronary stent implantation performed by one expert interventional cardiologist with sufficient experience in SBS imaging and radiation protection, were included. The patients were divided into groups with or without SBS. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the impact of SBS imaging on patient radiation dose. Of 712 patients screened, 414 patients were enrolled in the study (with SBS: n = 177, without SBS: n = 237). Although the DAP, fluoroscopy time and cine frames used in the group with SBS were significantly increased when compared with those used in the group without SBS (P < 0.05), multiple linear regression shows SBS imaging has no significant impact on patient radiation dose (P > 0.05). Multivariate predictors of patient radiation dose were the patients' BMI, B2/C lesions, number of stents placed and bifurcation stenting (P < 0.05). In selected patients, SBS imaging can be performed with comparable patient radiation dose, compared with plain fluoroscopic imaging. This may attribute to the operator's sufficient experience in SBS imaging and radiation protection.