Decreased Physician Radiation Exposure with Suspended Radiation Protection System Compared to Standard Protection During CardioMems Implantation

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2025

Publication Title

Journal of Cardiac Failure

Abstract

Purpose: Implantable pulmonary artery pressure sensors (CardioMems) are being increasingly utilized for the management of heart failure (HF) patients who are at risk for hospitalization. Implantation of CardioMems requires the use of ionizing radiation. We have previously reported that the radiation utilized during CardioMems implantation is significantly higher than endomyocardial biopsies and similar to diagnostic coronary angiography (CA). Interventions to decrease physician radiation exposure during CardioMems implantations has not been described. Our objective was to describe the physician radiation exposure during implantation of CardioMems using standard radiation protection equipment and compare it with the suspended radiation protection system.

Methods: CardioMems implantation procedures performed between May 8,2023 and February 23, 2024 at our institution were included in the study. Physicians wore a real time RaySafe badge at the level of the neck. For the first phase of the study, physicians used standard radiation equipment (lead apron, thyroid collar, shield). For the second portion of the study, physicians utilized a suspended radiation protection system. Baseline patient clinical characteristics and radiation measures (fluoroscopy time (FT), air kerma (AK), dose area product(DAP), and physician radiation dose (µSv)) were obtained.

Results: A total of 24 patients underwent CardioMems implantation during the study period. Patient clinical characteristics, radiation utilization, and radiation exposure variables are shown in table 1. Clinical hemodynamic and echocardiographic characteristics were similar between the two groups. The radiation utilized for CardioMems implantation (AK, DAP, FT) was similar between both groups. The physician radiation exposure utilizing the standard protection equipment was 3.8 ± 3.8 µSv; this value is similar to that described for the exposure in CA. The physician radiation exposure with the utilization of suspended radiation protection equipment was 0.3 ± 0.3 µSv, which was significantly lower compared to radiation exposure with conventional protection methods (p = 0.005).

Conclusion: The physician radiation exposure during CardioMems implantation (via the femoral approach) is similar to coronary angiography, and is significantly reduced by the use of suspended radiation protection equipment.

Volume

31

Issue

1

First Page

321

Comments

Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) Annual Scientific Meeting, September 27-30, 2024, Atlanta, GA

Last Page

322

DOI

10.1016/j.cardfail.2024.10.360

ISSN

1532-8414

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