In plain language
At one center, fluoroscopy time and patient dose for atrial fibrillation ablation fell sharply over 12 years, with lower values when contact force catheters were used. Staff dose was not measured, but less fluoroscopy likely means less exposure for the electrophysiology (EP) team.
At a glance
- Type of study
- Original research, Retrospective cohort study
- Who was studied
- Patients, Electrophysiologists
- Size
- n = 2,344 procedures
- Summary based on
- the abstract
What it found
Fluoroscopy time for initial pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) fell progressively from 2004-2006 to 2013-2015.
Key figures: 61 ± 27 minutes (2004-2006) to 17 ± 9 minutes (2013-2015)
Absorbed and effective doses for initial PVI fell between 2007-2009 and 2013-2015.
Key figures: 1365 ± 1369 mGy, 11.3 ± 12.5 mSv (2007-2009) to 304 ± 758 mGy, 5.5 ± 6.7 mSv (2013-2015)
Contact force-sensing catheters were associated with shorter fluoroscopy time and lower absorbed dose in PVI-only cases in 2014-2015.
Key figures: 11 ± 5 vs 21 ± 8 minutes, P <.001; 200 ± 524 vs 470 ± 1326 mGy, P = .004
The authors attribute the decline to operator experience, case volume, technology evolution and CF-sensing catheters.
Limits to keep in mind
Single-center observational review of patient dose metrics; staff dose was not measured directly, and the catheter comparison is non-randomized and confounded by time and experience.
Related research summaries
- Fluoroscopy-minimization strategy for catheter ablation of Supraventricular Tachycardia by wOmen OPerators: the STOOP Multicentre Registry (2026, Prospective cohort study)
- Utilization of a Radiation Safety Time-Out Reduces Radiation Exposure During Electrophysiology Procedures (2019, Prospective cohort study)
- Completely nonfluoroscopic catheter ablation of left atrial arrhythmias and ventricular tachycardia (2018, Case report or series)
- Decreased Operator X-Ray Exposure By Optimized Fluoroscopy During Radiofrequency Ablation Of Common Atrial Flutter (2018, Prospective cohort study)
- Reducing radiation exposure during procedures performed in the electrophysiology laboratory (2017, Retrospective cohort study)
How this summary was made
ORSIF prepared this summary with AI assistance from the abstract of the paper. A program then checked that the passage supporting each finding appears word for word in that source. A person has not yet reviewed each summary, so read the original before relying on a number. ORSIF summarizes research and does not endorse any product or company. Report a problem with this summary.
Prepared November 3, 2026.