Zero - or near-zero fluoroscopy catheter ablation of supraventricular tachycardia by women women operators: the STOOP multicenter registry

Exposure to ionizing radiation in electrophysiology can have a significant impact on the professional careers of women of reproductive age.

The aim of our registry was to quantify the total amount of X-rays, potentially absorbed over the course of a working year by a female operator of reproductive age performing consecutive radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) adopting a zero or near-zero approach.

Twelve centers across Europe took part in the study. All procedures were performed with a zero or near-zero approach, using a 3D mapping system, guided by the ALARA principles.

Overall, 710 RFCA procedures were performed. The mean age of the operators was 38±7 years. The mean procedure time was 80±35 min with a mean fluoroscopy time of 48±148 s. The mean operator annual DAP was 46.7±79.5 Gycm² and the mean operator annual Effective Dose was 9.34±15.9 µSV. The yearly Effective Dose did not reach the 1 mSv cut-off in any operator. The mean DAP did not differ among the several operators, and was not affected by the overall operator’s experience in performing SVT RFCA, as well as the operator’s volume of yearly procedures performed with a zero or near-zero approach.

The total amount of X-rays, potentially absorbed over the course of a working year by a female operator of reproductive age performing consecutive RFCA for SVT adopting a zero or near-zero approach, is inferior to the established European limit of 1 mSv, and is not affected by the operator’s experience.