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Acute Radiation Dermatitis Following Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia
Author(s) -
ROSENTHAL LAWRENCE S.,
BECK. THOMAS J.,
WILLIAMS JERRY,
MAHESH MAHADEVAPPA,
HERMAN MICHAEL G.,
DINERMAN JAY L.,
CALKINS HUCH,
LAWRENCE JOHN H.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1997.tb03574.x
Subject(s) - medicine , tachycardia , fluoroscopy , catheter ablation , ablation , supraventricular tachycardia , radiology , radiological weapon , radiofrequency ablation , cardiology
Radiation exposure during fluoroscopic imaging poses potential risks to patients and physicians, especially during protracted cardiovascular or radiological interventional procedures. We describe a woman with refractory paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation of the slow pathway involved in atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. The patient subsequently returned 4 weeks later with acute radiation dermatitis that was retrospectively attributed to a malfunction in the fluoroscopy unit that lacked a maximum current output cut‐off switch. Using dose reconstruction studies and her estimated biological response, we determined that she received between 15 and 20 Gy (1 Gy = 100 rods) to the skin on her back during the procedure. The exposure will result in an increase in her lifelong risk of skin and lung cancer. This article underscores the potential for radiation‐induced injury during lengthy therapeutic procedures using x‐ray equipment.