This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Damilakis, J. Articles by Gourtsoyiannis, N. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Damilakis, J. Articles by Gourtsoyiannis, N. Related Collections Electrophysiology Ablation/ICD/surgery

(Circulation. 2001;104:893.)
© 2001 American Heart Association, Inc.

Clinical Investigation and Reports

Conceptus Radiation Dose and Risk From Cardiac Catheter Ablation Procedures

John Damilakis, PhD; Nicholas Theocharopoulos, MSc; Kostas Perisinakis, PhD; Emmanouel Manios, MD; Panayiotis Dimitriou, PhD; Panos Vardas, MD, PhD; Nicholas Gourtsoyiannis, MD, PhD

From the Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Crete, Greece, and the Faculty of Medicine, University of Athens (P.D.), Athens, Greece.

Correspondence to J. Damilakis, PhD, Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, PO Box 1393, 71409 Iraklion, Crete, Greece. E-mail damilaki{at}med.uoc.gr

Background—— The aim of the current study was to estimate the conceptus radiation dose and risk associated with fluoroscopic imaging during a catheter ablation procedure for supraventricular tachycardia performed on the expectant mother.

Methods and Results—— Exposure parameters and fluoroscopy times for each projection of the cardiac ablation procedure performed in 20 female patients of childbearing age were recorded. Radiation doses for a potential conceptus were estimated by using dose data obtained in anthropomorphic phantoms simulating pregnancy at the first, second, and third trimesters. Dose measurements were carried out using thermoluminescent dosimeters. For a typical examination, the average radiation dose to the conceptus was <1 mGy in all periods of gestation. Average excess fatal cancer was 14.5/10⁶ unborn children irradiated during the first postconception weeks. Corresponding values for the second and third trimesters were 30 and 55.7/10⁶, respectively. The risk for hereditary effects in future generations was 1.5/10⁶ cases for conceptus irradiation during the first postconception weeks. Corresponding values for the second and third trimesters were 3.0 and 5.6/10⁶, respectively. Formulas and dose data are presented for estimating the conceptus risk from any technique and x-ray system used for catheter ablation procedures.

Conclusions—— A typical catheter ablation procedure results in a very small increase in risk of harmful effects to the conceptus. However, estimation of conceptus dose from catheter ablation procedures is always needed to assess the risk to the individual developing in utero.

Key Words: catheter ablation • pregnancy • imaging • radiography • tachycardia

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. P. Efstathopoulos, D. G. Katritsis, S. Kottou, N. Kalivas, E. Tzanalaridou, E. Giazitzoglou, S. Korovesis, and K. Faulkner Patient and staff radiation dosimetry during cardiac electrophysiology studies and catheter ablation procedures: a comprehensive analysis Europace, June 1, 2006; 8(6): 443 - 448. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Committee Members, C. Blomstrom-Lundqvist, M. M. Scheinman, E. M. Aliot, J. S. Alpert, H. Calkins, A. J. Camm, W. B. Campbell, D. E. Haines, K. H. Kuck, et al. ACC/AHA/ESC guidelines for the management of patients with supraventricular arrhythmias --executive summary: a report of the American college of cardiology/American heart association task force on practice guidelines and the European society of cardiology committee for practice guidelines (writing committee to develop guidelines for the management of patients with supraventricular arrhythmias) Developed in Collaboration with NASPE-Heart Rhythm Society J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., October 15, 2003; 42(8): 1493 - 1531. [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Blomstrom-Lundqvist, M. M. Scheinman, E. M. Aliot, J. S. Alpert, H. Calkins, A. J. Camm, W. B. Campbell, D. E. Haines, K. H. Kuck, B. B. Lerman, et al. ACC/AHA/ESC Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Supraventricular Arrhythmias*--Executive Summary: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Develop Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Supraventricular Arrhythmias) Circulation, October 14, 2003; 108(15): 1871 - 1909. [Full Text] [PDF]

				Committee Members, C. Blomstrom-Lundqvist, M. M Scheinman, E. M Aliot, J. S Alpert, H. Calkins, A.J. Camm, W.B. Campbell, D. E Haines, K. H Kuck, et al. ACC/AHA/ESC guidelines for the management of patients with supraventricular arrhythmias--executive summary: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American HeartAssociation Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines(Writing Committee to Develop Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Supraventricular Arrhythmias)Developed in collaboration with NASPE-Heart Rhythm Society Eur. Heart J., October 2, 2003; 24(20): 1857 - 1897. [Full Text] [PDF]