Fluoroscopy-guided placement of nasoenteral tubes in children using intermittent digital pulse fluoroscopy and last image save/grab technique

Aim To document the radiation exposure metrics, including fluoroscopic radiation time and radiation dose–area product, in children Materials and methods Following institutional review board approval, the age, gender, anatomical information, immediate procedure-related complications if any, fluoroscopy time, and radiation dose–area product were collected retrospectively in all paediatric patients who underwent fluoroscopically guided nasoenteral tube placement during a 5-year period. Three paediatric radiology faculty members, a radiologist assistant, and trainee residents during their paediatric radiology rotation performed the procedures on two different digital fluoroscopic machines using radiation-minimising techniques. Median values of the fluoroscopy time and radiation dose–area product were calculated and compared to values reported in the literature using the Wilcoxon procedure. Results There were 41 male and 33 female patients with a median age of 4 years and 6 months. Median fluoroscopy time used for placing a nasoenteral tube was 1.25 minutes with a median radiation exposure dose–area product of 0.245 Gy·cm 2 . All patients had successful placement of nasoenteral tube without immediate procedure-related complications. Conclusion Fluoroscopy-guided nasoenteral feeding tube placement can be performed successfully with minimal radiation exposure without compromising procedural success.