A retrospective study of radiation dose measurements comparing different cath lab X-ray systems in a sample population of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusions.

Objectives: A retrospective study was performed to investigate if the generation of X-ray system used was an independent factor for radiation dose in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: PCI procedures for CTOs are known to be associated with higher doses of radiation. The authors suspected progressive reductions in radiation doses for CTO PCI as newer X-ray systems were introduced into clinical practice.

Methods: Procedures performed over a five-year period by three interventional cardiologists were retrospectively reviewed. Five different X-ray systems were used across three hospital sites. These included: Axiom Artis and Coroskop HIP (both Siemens), Innova (GE), Allura Xper FD 10, and Allura Clarity FD 10 (both Philips). Procedural and demographic data including body mass index (BMI; kg/m ), fluoroscopy time (min), and dose area product (DAP; cGycm ) were collated for each procedure. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the influence each X-ray system would have on DAP values after BMI and fluoroscopy time were controlled for.

Results: In total, 860 procedures were analyzed. Mean fluoroscopy time was 40.00 ± 19.99 min, mean BMI was 29.90 ± 5.13 kg/m , mean DAP 11,980 ± 7,947 cGycm . Log values of DAP were used to normalize results in a general linear model. A significant statistical difference in DAP between X-ray systems was demonstrated after fluoroscopy time and BMI were controlled for (P ≤ 0.001).

Conclusion: There is a significant impact on DAP values resulting from the generation of X-ray system used, measured during PCI for CTOs, with the most modern systems producing the lowest radiation doses.