Quality Initiative to Reduce Cardiac CT Angiography Radiation Exposure in Patients with Congenital Heart Disease

The use of cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) as a complementary diagnostic modality to echocardiography in patients with congenital heart diseases (CHDs) is expanding in low- and middle-income countries. The adoption of As Low As Reasonably Achievable techniques is not widespread, resulting in significant unintended radiation exposure, especially in children. Simple quality improvement measures geared toward reducing radiation dose can have a impact on patient safety in resource-limited centers in low- and middle-income countries.

To determine how a quality improvement initiative can reduce radiation exposure during CCTA in patients with CHD.

We designed a key driver -based quality initiative to reduce radiation dose during CCTA for CHD using protocol optimization, communication, and training and implementation as the drivers for intervention. Preintervention variables (radiation exposure, scanning protocols, and image quality) were collected from September 2012 to July 2016 and compared with variables in the postimplementation phase (February 2017 to July 2017). We compared quantitative and categorical variables using the chi-square test. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of various factors on radiation dose.

We documented a reduction in the effective dose in the postintervention versus preintervention phase (mean, 2.0 versus 21 mSv, P < 0.0001, respectively). Linear regression showed that the optimal organizational levels are associated with the same reduction in radiation. This finding shows that the time factor translates a combination of organizational and technical factors that contributed to the reduction in radiations.

Our project showed a reduction in CCTA-associated radiation exposure.