Radiation exposure to the child during cardiac catheterization

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981 · Circulation; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.64.1.158· OSTI ID:5672004

Waldman, J D; Rummerfield, P S; Gilpin, E A; Kirkpatrick, S E

Few data are available regarding radiation exposure to children during cardiac catheterization. Using lithium fluoride thermoluminescent dosimeters, radiation exposure was measured during precatheterization chest roentgenography, fluoroscopy (hemodynamic assessment phase of catheterization) and cineangiography in 30 infants and children, ages 3 days to 21 years. Dosimeters were placed over the eyes, thyroid, anterior chest, posterior chest, anterior abdomen, posterior abdomen and gonads. Average absorbed chest doses were 24.5 mR during chest roentgenography, 5810 mR during catheterization fluoroscopy and 1592 mR during cineangiography. During the complete catheterization, average doses were 26 mR to the eyes, 431 mR to the thyroid area, 150 mR to the abdomen and 11 mR to the gonads. Radiation exposure during pediatric cardiac catheterization is low to the eyes and gonads but high to the chest and thyroid area. To decrease radiation dosage we suggest (1) low pulse-rate fluoroscopy; (2) substitution of contrast echocardiography for cineangiography; (3) large-plate abdominal/gonadal shielding; (4) a selective shield for thyroid area; (5) a very small field during catheter manipulation. Minimum radiation consistent with accurate diagnosis is optimal; however, erroneous or incomplete diagnosis is more dangerous than radiation-related hazards.

• OSTI ID: 5672004
• Journal Information: Circulation; (United States), Vol. 64:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
ABDOMEN
THERMOLUMINESCENT DOSIMETRY
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
RADIATION HAZARDS
CHEST
EYES
FLUOROSCOPY
GONADS
THYROID
BIOLOGICAL SHIELDING
BLOOD VESSELS
CHILDREN
DIAGNOSIS
HEART
PEDIATRICS
RADIATION DOSES
AGE GROUPS
BODY
BODY AREAS
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DOSES
DOSIMETRY
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
FACE
GLANDS
HAZARDS
HEAD
HEALTH HAZARDS
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
RADIOLOGY
SENSE ORGANS
SHIELDING
550602* - Medicine- External Radiation in Diagnostics- (1980-)
550601 - Medicine- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
560151 - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man
552000 - Public Health