Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Since the introduction of 3D mapping systems, the use of x-rays in electrophysiology procedures has significantly decreased. The goal of this study was to analyze the frequency of x-ray use in pediatric electrophysiology in relation to age or body mass, indication for the procedure, and arrhythmia substrate. This retrospective, cross-sectional study included all pediatric procedures in two centers, Gottsegen Cardiovascular Center, Budapest, Hungary and Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia.
Patient data included weight, age, sex, presence of structural heart disease, indication for the electrophysiology study, arrhythmia substrate, and x-ray use. A total of participants were analyzed, mean age Of all procedures, Younger or smaller children were not irradiated more frequently during electrophysiology procedures performed with 3D mapping systems.
In conclusion, there is no reason to postpone the procedure based on radiation frequency use. Key words: Electrophysiology , Fluoroscopy , 3D mapping , Pediatrics. In electrophysiology, in addition to x-rays for catheter display, 3D mapping systems have been used for many years. The use of x-rays has decreased significantly after their introduction in electrophysiological procedures in the heart 1 - 6.
This is especially important in the case of pediatric patients, since children are more sensitive to ionizing radiation and their life expectancy is longer than that of adult patients 7. In electrophysiology, small children present a greater challenge in carrying out these procedures, from the puncture of blood vessels to the mapping and ablation itself, where the possibility of complications is greater due to the proximity of normal anatomical structures.
Janson et al. Since it is known that the use of x-rays is more common in complex procedures 9 , it could be expected to be more frequent in small children, since many of the potential complications can be re-assessed with x-rays. Although this question is extremely important and can influence the decision on the right time to perform these procedures, we did not find articles that would compare the frequency of radiation use in pediatric electrophysiology in relation to age or body mass.
