Ces radiol. 2014, 68(2):148-152

Reducing the radiation burden of angiographic performance using the ClarityIQ technologyOriginal article

Michal Rek¹, Jakub Grepl¹, Antonín Krajina¹, Eva Čermáková², Radovan Malý³, Vendelín Chovanec¹, Ondřej Renc¹, Jan Raupach¹

¹ Radiologická klinika LF UK a FN, Hradec Králové

² Oddělení výpočetní techniky LF UK, Hradec Králové

³ 1. interní kardioangiologická klinika LF UK a FN, Hradec Králové

Aim: Creation of a high-quality digital image system ClarityIQ on angiography equipment AlluraClarity Xper FD 20/20 (Philips Medical System, Best, The Netherlands) is associated with lower patient radiation burden than the previous generation of equipments. The aim of the study was to compare the effective doses of ionizing radiation on two angiographic intervention equipments Allura Xper FD 20 (Philips Medical System, Best, The Netherlands) and Philips Allura Xper FD Clarity 20/20 (Philips Medical System, Best, The Netherlands).

Methods: In this retrospective study we analyzed 100 interventional examinations consecutively performed in 100 patients from 1st July 2012, until 1st July 2013. Fifty patients (34 males, 16 females, mean age 64 years, average weight 79 kg and average height 170 cm) were examined using the angiography set Philips AlluraClarity FD 20/20 employing the ClarityIQ technology. Fifty patients (30 males, 20 females, mean age 64 years, average weight 78 kg and average height 170 cm) were examined using the Allura Xper FD 20 set that does not work with the ClarityIQ system. The groups were divided according to the type of intervention on the performance of subgroups comprising 10 interventional procedures on each of the machine: the creation of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS), the implantation of abdominal stentgrafts for abdominal aortic aneurysm, neurointerventional procedures in patients after subarachnoideal hemorrhage from a cerebral aneurysm (SAH), neurointerventional treatment of the patients with ischemic stroke, patients with carotid artery stenting (CAS).
The generated subgroups are determined by calculating the values of effective doses. The statistical significance of the reduction in effective doses of patients examined on the device that is equipped with ClarityIQ was demonstrated by tests of statistical program NCSS 2007.

Results: Significant reduction of radiation burden to patients has been shown by significant decrease of effective doses in the ClarityIQ system. The effective dose decrease ranged from 50% to 70% and was proved to be statistically significant.

Conclusion: The ClarityIQ significantly reduces radiation dose to the patient associated with the performance of interventional radiology procedures, and therefore equipments with similar systems should be preferred.

Keywords: effective dose, interventional radiology, fluoroscopy

Accepted: April 16, 2014; Published: June 1, 2014  Show citation