Purpose
Paediatric patients undergoing interventional cardiology procedures (IC) are more sensitive to the stochastic effects of ionising radiation than adults.
This study aims to establish the local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) of a dedicated cardiology center in the context of optimisation.
Methods and Materials
276 paediatric patients underwent diagnostic and therapeutic IC procedures divided into five age groups.
The therapeutic procedures were aortic angioplasty,
atrial septal defect closure,
patent ductus arteriosus closure.The weight,
height,
total number of frames and fluoroscopy time were recorded.
The dosimetric quantity [air kerma-area product (Pka)] at the patient entrance reference point was also recorded for each procedure and the effective doses (ED) were calculated using suitable conversion factors for each age group.
Results
The numbers of patients of each age group were; 36 for 0-0.5 years; 80 for 0.51-2.5 years; 73 for 2.51-7.5 years; 54 for 7.51-12.5 years; and 33 for 12.51-18 years.
The respective mean ED for the above age groups were; 10.0 mSv,
8.4 mSv,
6.0 mSv,
5.5 mSv,
6.0 mSv.
Conclusion
The results show that the age has a greater influence in radiation dose than the type of procedure in paediatric IC.
The ED values are comparable if not lower than those that have been recently published in literature.
The need of DRLs establishment in paediatric IC is obvious,
taking into account the higher sensitivity of children in radiation.
References
1.
Effective dose conversion factors in paediatric interventional cardiology.
A Karambatsakidou et al.
The BJR,
82 (2009),
748-755.
2.
Variation in radiation doses in paediatric cardiac catheterisation procedures.
Abdalla N et al.
Radiation protection dosimetry,
129 (2008),
173-178.
3.
The appropriate and justified use of medical radiation in cardiovascular imaging: a position document of the ESC Associations of Cardiovascular Imaging,
Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions and Electrophysiology.
E Vano,
et al.
European Heart journal (2014).
4.
Patient - Specific Dose and RadiationRisk Estimation in Pediatric cardiac Catheterisation....