Effectiveness of Low Rate Fluoroscopy at Reducing Operator and Patient Radiation Dose During Transradial Coronary Angiography and Interventions

• Published in: JACC. Cardiovascular interventions 2014-05, Vol.7 (5), p.567-574
• Main Authors: Abdelaal, Eltigani, MD, Plourde, Guillaume, MS, MacHaalany, Jimmy, MD, Arsenault, Jean, Eng, MScA, Rimac, Goran, MS, Déry, Jean-Pierre, MD, Barbeau, Gérald, MD, Larose, Eric, MD, De Larochellière, Robert, MD, Nguyen, Can M., MD, Allende, Ricardo, MD, Ribeiro, Henrique, MD, Costerousse, Olivier, PhD, Mongrain, Rosaire, Eng, PhD, Bertrand, Olivier F., MD, PhD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Cardiac Catheterization - adverse effects; Cardiac Catheterization - methods; Cardiovascular; Cineangiography; Coronary Angiography - adverse effects; Coronary Angiography - methods; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; dosimetry; Fluoroscopy; Humans; imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational Exposure - prevention & control; Occupational Injuries - prevention & control; percutaneous coronary intervention; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention - adverse effects; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention - methods; Quebec; Radial Artery - diagnostic imaging; radiation; Radiation Dosage; Radiation Injuries - prevention & control; Radiation Monitoring; Radiation Protection; Radiography, Interventional - adverse effects; Risk Factors; Time Factors; transradial
• ISSN: 1936-8798; 1876-7605
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcin.2014.02.005

Objectives This study sought to determine the efficacy of low rate fluoroscopy at 7.5 frames/s (FPS) versus conventional 15 FPS for reduction of operator and patient radiation dose during diagnostic coronary angiography (DCA) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) via the transradial approach (TRA). Background TRA for cardiac catheterization is potentially associated with increased radiation exposure. Low rate fluoroscopy has the potential to reduce radiation exposure. Methods Patients undergoing TRA diagnostic angiography ± ad-hoc PCI were randomized to fluoroscopy at 7.5 FPS versus 15 FPS prior to the procedure. Both 7.5 and 15 FPS fluoroscopy protocols were configured with a fixed dose per pulse of 40 nGy. Primary endpoints were operator radiation dose (measured with dosimeter attached to the left side of the thyroid shield in μSievert [μSv]), patient radiation dose (expressed as dose-area product in Gy·cm2 ), and fluoroscopy time. Results From October 1, 2012 to August 30, 2013, from a total of 363 patients, 184 underwent DCA and 179 underwent PCI. Overall, fluoroscopy at 7.5 FPS compared with 15 FPS was associated with a significant reduction in operator dose (30% relative reduction [RR], p < 0.0001); and in patient's dose-area product (19% RR; p = 0.022). When stratified by procedure type, 7.5 FPS compared with 15 FPS was associated with significant reduction in operator dose during both DCA (40% RR; p < 0.0001) and PCI (28% RR; p = 0.0011). Fluoroscopy at 7.5 FPS, compared with 15 FPS, was also associated with substantial reduction in patients' dose-area product during DCA (26% RR; p = 0.0018) and during PCI (19% RR; p = 0.13). Fluoroscopy time was similar in 7.5 FPS and 15 FPS groups for DCA (3.4 ± 2.0 min vs. 4.0 ± 4.7 min; p = 0.42) and PCI (11.9 ± 8.4 min vs. 13.3 ± 9.7 min; p = 0.57), respectively. Conclusions Fluoroscopy at 7.5 FPS, compared with 15 FPS, is a simple and effective method in reducing operator and patient radiation dose during TRA DCA and PCI.