Paediatric cardiac catheterization radiation doses: a 6-year retrospective survey and typical values in a Mexican tertiary care center.

BACKGROUND

Establishing typical values is vital for radiation safety in paediatric fluoroscopically guided cardiac procedures (FGCP).

AIM: To publish the first typical values for FGCP in a Mexican tertiary hospital.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 136 procedures (2018-2024), stratified by procedure type, weight, and age. Kerma-area product (Pka) and cumulative air kerma (Ka,r) were collected.

RESULTS

Typical values (median Pka) ranged from: <5 kg (2.84 Gy·cm2) up to 50-<80 kg (30.54 Gy·cm2). By age group <1 year (3.28 Gy·cm2) up to 10-15 years (20.63 Gy·cm2). No statistical difference was found between diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

Weight-stratified institutional typical values revealed critical disparities, notably a five-fold higher dose for therapeutic procedures in infants <5 kg (4.07 vs 0.80 Gy·cm2). While weight predicts diagnostic dose, complexity drives therapeutic exposure. These benchmarks enable local optimization and support future National DRL development.