Pushing the limits: establishing an ultra-low framerate and antiscatter grid-less radiation protocol for left atrial ablations

Abstract

The use of an ultra low framerate and antiscatter grid-less radiation protocol effectively reduced radiation dose for complex left atrial ablation procedures and lead to very low average patient doses. Reduced image quality did not impair procedural and fluoroscopy duration or acute procedural success.

Ultra‐low radiation dose during electrophysiology procedures using optimized new generation fluoroscopy technology

“…This default setting is higher than the 3 PPS advocated by Heidbuchel et al . and the 2 PPS in other studies, indicating that there are further dose savings that could be made.…”

The effect of an ultra‐low frame rate and antiscatter grid‐less radiation protocol for cardiac device implantations

“…This is why removing the antiscatter grid can reduce patient dose, as a given detector entrance dose will be achieved at lower exposure. 3 All these measures may reduce image contrast. As even for complex cardiac device implantations image quality demands are usually modest, the purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of an ultra-low frame rate and scatter grid-less radiation protocol for these procedures.…”

Minimizing Radiation in the Modern Electrophysiology Laboratory

“…Some centers have decreased settings to as low as 2 fps without evidence of an increase in complications or prolongation of the procedure. 10 An order of magnitude reduction in radiation dose may be achieved with an aggressive reduction in frame rate.…”