Abstract
Cardiac electrophysiology frequently employs fluoroscopy in both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Electrophysiologists need to be aware of the different degrees of exposure associated with each procedure and utilise a personal dosimeter to monitor exposure. In general, diagnostic procedures have lower radiation exposure compared to ablative procedures. Atrial fibrillation ablation has the highest radiation exposure of all electrophysiologic procedures. Radiation exposure has been shown to pose a cumulative risk of cancer and a threshold-based risk for tissue and organ injury. Radiation safety protocols must be utilised to minimise exposure to radiation during the procedure. Measures to reduce radiation exposure include equipment customisation, workflow adaptations, protective gear and effective use of non-radiation techniques. Pregnancy presents a unique challenge and monitoring is essential to prevent harmful consequences to both the mother and the foetus.
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Nagarajan, D.V., AlTurki, A., Ernst, S. (2019). Radiation Exposure and Safety for the Electrophysiologist. In: Proietti, R., Wang, Y., Yao, Y., Zhong, G., Lin Wu, S., Ayala-Paredes, F. (eds) Cardiac Electrophysiology Without Fluoroscopy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16992-3_2
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