Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Atrial Fibrillation Can Be Achieved with Low Radiation Exposure

Background Atrial fibrillation is common and management by pharmacotherapy is limited by modest efficacy and significant toxicities. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a safe and effective alternative in select patients with atrial fibrillation. However, prolonged procedure time raises concerns of health risks from radiation exposure. This study aims to determine the significance of radiation exposure from PVI. Methods In this study, we retrospectively reviewed patient demographics, fluoroscopy time, entrance skin dose and dose area product in 80 cases of PVI, radiofrequency ablation for atrial flutter and diagnostic coronary angiogram performed in our institution. Results Compared to other procedures, patients who underwent PVI were younger (age, mean±standard error of mean, 59.4±1.1 years old, p 2 ) was higher than flutter ablation (1077.8 and 452.9–2410.2cGycm 2 , p 2 , p Conclusions Despite prolonged procedure time, radiation exposure from PVI was comparable to, or lower than, other fluoroscopy-guided cardiac procedures.