title: Fluoroscopy-guided procedures in cardiology: is patient exposure being reduced over time?
abstract: The number of fluoroscopy-guided procedures in cardiology is increasing over time and it is appropriate to wonder whether technological progress or change of techniques is influencing patient exposure. The aim of this study is to examine whether patient dose has been decreasing over the years. Patient dose data of more than 7700 procedures were collected from two cardiology centres. A steady increase in the patient dose over the years was observed in both the centres for the two cardiological procedures included in this study. Significant increase in dose was also observed after the installation of a flat-panel detector. The increasing use of radial access may lead to an increase in the patient exposure. The monitoring of dose data over time showed a considerable increase in the patient exposure over time. Actions have to be taken towards dose reduction in both the centres.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiation Physics, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Rue du Grand-Pré 1, 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Samara
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aroua
authors.forename: J-C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Stauffer
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bochud
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Verdun
mesh_terms: D001822:Body Burden; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015995:Prevalence; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*