Reducing Fluoroscopic and Cineangiographic Contribution to Radiation Exposure for Chronic Total Coronary Occlusion...

The treatment of chronic total coronary occlusions (CTO) carries the highest radiation exposure among percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). In order to minimize radiation damage, we need to understand and optimize the contribution of all components of radiation exposure.

A total of 1000 CTO procedures performed between 2011 and 2020 were compared according to implemented radiation modifications. Group 1 used the original set-up of the X-ray equipment (Artis Zee, Siemens). In group 2 a modified protocol aimed at reducing the fluoroscopy exposure, in group 3 further modifications aimed at reducing cineangiographic exposure.

Despite an increased lesion complexity, Air Kerma (AK) was reduced from 2619 mGy (1653-4574) in group 1 to 2178 mGy (1332-3500; p < 0.001) in group 2 by mainly reducing fluoroscopic contribution by 54.1%, the cineangiographic contribution was lowered by only 6.6%. In group 3 AK dropped drastically to 746 mGy (480-1225; p < 0.001) mainly by reducing the cineangiographic contribution by 53.4%, still there was a further reduction of fluoroscopy contribution of 8.2%. This also led to a reduction of the skin entry dose from 1038 mGy (690-1589) in group 2 to 359 mGy (204-591; p < 0.001) in group 3. This was achieved both in normal weight and obese patients, and both in antegrade and retrograde procedures.

The present study demonstrates that by modifying both the fluoroscopic and cineangiographic contribution to radiation exposure a drastic reduction of radiation risk can be achieved, even in obese patients. Currently accepted radiation thresholds may no longer be a limit for CTO PCI.