Decrease in patient radiation exposure by a tantalum filter during electrophysiological procedures.
OBJECTIVE
Minimization of X-ray exposure remains a primary issue in cardiac electrophysiology. The effectiveness of X-ray beam filtration during cardiac electrophysiological procedures was therefore studied, using a 0.05-mm-thick tantalum (Ta) foil, as a filter on the primary X-ray beam, to reduce the patient dose without degradation of image quality.


METHODS
Preliminary tests were made on a phantom developed with polymethylmethacrylate, catheters, and guide wires. The filter was then used in patients during cardiac procedures. Identical patient images were obtained with and without the Ta filter insertion and the ratio between image quality and patient dose was evaluated. Changes in patient dose and signal-to-noise ratio, as image quality index were measured on the phantom and in patients.


CONCLUSIONS
When the Ta filter was used, the mean effective individual patient dose decreased by 3 to 40% (mean reduction = 27%), with no perceivable difference in image quality estimated by electrophysiologists. This Ta filter may be useful to limit the radiation exposure of patients and operators during cardiac procedures.
Rossi
Pier Luca
PL
O.U. of Medical Physics, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Mariselli
Matteo
M
Corazza
Ivan
I
Bianchini
David
D
Biffi
Mauro
M
Martignani
Cristian
C
Zannoli
Romano
R
Boriani
Giuseppe
G
D001822:Body Burden; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D013635:Tantalum
D013635:Tantalum