Effect of fluoroscopy frame rate on radiation exposure and in-hospital outcomes in cardiovascular implantable electronic device implantation procedures

To assess the radiation exposure in cardiovascular implantable electronic device(CIED) implantation procedures, the effect of fluoroscopy frame rate on various radiation exposure indices, and in-hospital outcomes. Data of CIED implantation procedures from September 2015 to December 2019 of all the CIED implantation procedures performed at our institute were retrospectively analyzed. The procedural data were divided into two groups: a) pre-group: procedures that were performed under fluoroscopy frame rate of 7.5 frames per second(fps); b) post-group: procedures that were performed under fluoroscopy frame rate of 3.75 fps. We compared procedure time, fluoroscopy time, Kerma air product, effective dose, and in-hospital outcomes between the two groups. A total of 2,225 procedures were included in the analysis with mean age of (62 ​± ​15) years. The procedures consisted of the implantation of single-chamber (n ​= ​1,436), double chamber (n ​= ​656), and biventricular devices (n ​= ​133). Procedure time and radiation indices showed a significant reduction over the study period (P ​< ​0.001). Reduction in the fluoroscopy frame rate was associated with a significant reduction in radiation exposure indices(P ​< ​0.001). In-hospital outcomes did not differ between the two groups. Reduction in the fluoroscopy frame rate from 7.5 to 3.75 fps significantly decreased the radiation exposure in CIED implantation procedures. A framerate lower than 3.75 fps should be the default setting during such procedures.