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Anselmino M, Ballatore A, Giaccardi M, et al. X-ray management in electrophysiology: a survey of the Italian Association of Arrhythmology and Cardiac Pacing (AIAC). J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2021;22(10):751-758doi: 10.2459/JCM.0000000000001210.
Anselmino, M., Ballatore, A., Giaccardi, M., Agresta, A., Chieffo, E., Floris, R., Racheli, M., Scaglione, M., Casella, M., Maines, M., Marini, M., De Ferrari, G. M., De Ponti, R., & Del Greco, M. (2021). X-ray management in electrophysiology: a survey of the Italian Association of Arrhythmology and Cardiac Pacing (AIAC). Journal of cardiovascular medicine (Hagerstown, Md.), 22(10), 751-758. https://doi.org/10.2459/JCM.0000000000001210
Anselmino, Matteo, et al. "X-ray management in electrophysiology: a survey of the Italian Association of Arrhythmology and Cardiac Pacing (AIAC)." Journal of cardiovascular medicine (Hagerstown, Md.) vol. 22,10 (2021): 751-758. doi: https://doi.org/10.2459/JCM.0000000000001210
Anselmino M, Ballatore A, Giaccardi M, Agresta A, Chieffo E, Floris R, Racheli M, Scaglione M, Casella M, Maines M, Marini M, De Ferrari GM, De Ponti R, Del Greco M. X-ray management in electrophysiology: a survey of the Italian Association of Arrhythmology and Cardiac Pacing (AIAC). J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2021 Oct 01;22(10):751-758. doi: 10.2459/JCM.0000000000001210. PMID: 34009182.
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J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2021 Oct 01;22(10):751-758. doi: 10.2459/JCM.0000000000001210.

X-ray management in electrophysiology: a survey of the Italian Association of Arrhythmology and Cardiac Pacing (AIAC).

Journal of cardiovascular medicine (Hagerstown, Md.)

Matteo Anselmino, Andrea Ballatore, Marzia Giaccardi, Alessia Agresta, Enrico Chieffo, Roberto Floris, Marco Racheli, Marco Scaglione, Michela Casella, Massimiliano Maines, Massimiliano Marini, Gaetano Maria De Ferrari, Roberto De Ponti, Maurizio Del Greco

Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiology, 'Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino' Hospital, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin.
  2. Cardiology and Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Medicine, 'Santa Maria Nuova' Hospital, Florence.
  3. Clinica Montevergine, Mercogliano, Avellino.
  4. Institute of Cardiology, Maggiore Hospital, Crema.
  5. Ospedale di Nostra Signora di Bonaria, San Gavino Monreale.
  6. Ospedale Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo.
  7. Division of Cardiology, 'Cardinal Massaia' Hospital, Asti, Italy.
  8. Cardiology and Arrhythmology Clinic, Marche Polytechnic University, University Hospital, Ancona.
  9. Divisione di Cardiologia, Ospedale S. Maria del Carmine, Rovereto.
  10. Department of Cardiology, S. Chiara Hospital, Trento.
  11. Department of Heart and Vessels, Ospedale di Circolo-University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.

PMID: 34009182 DOI: 10.2459/JCM.0000000000001210

Abstract

AIMS: Radiation use in medicine has significantly increased over the last decade, and cardiologists are among the specialists most responsible for X-ray exposure. The present study investigates a broad range of aspects, from specific European Union directives to general practical principles, related to radiation management among a national cohort of cardiologists.

METHODS AND RESULTS: A voluntary 31-question survey was run on the Italian Arrhythmology and Pacing Society (AIAC) website. From June 2019 to January 2020, 125 cardiologists, routinely performing interventional electrophysiology, participated in the survey. Eighty-seven (70.2%) participants are aware of the recent European Directive (Euratom 2013/59), although only 35 (28.2%) declare to have read the document in detail. Ninety-six (77.4%) participants register the dose delivered to the patient in each procedure, in 66.1% of the cases both as fluoroscopy time and dose area product. Years of exposition (P = 0.009) and working in centers performing pediatric procedures (P = 0.021) related to greater degree of X-ray equipment optimization. The majority of participants (72, 58.1%) did not recently attend radioprotection courses. The latter is related to increased awareness of techniques to reduce radiation exposure (96% vs. 81%, P = 0.022), registration of the delivered dose in each procedure (92% vs. 67%, P = 0.009), and X-ray equipment optimization (50% vs. 36%, P = 0.006).

CONCLUSION: Italian interventional cardiologists show an acceptable level of radiation awareness and knowledge of updated European directives. However, there is clear space for improvement. Comparison to other health professionals, both at national and international levels, is needed to pursue proper X-ray management and protect public health.

Copyright © 2021 Italian Federation of Cardiology - I.F.C. All rights reserved.

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