PATIENT DOSIMETRY SURVEY OF PEDIATRIC DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC CARDIAC CATHETERISATION IN JAPAN.

To propose reference values for air-kerma at the reference point (Ka,r), air-kerma area product (PKA), fluoroscopy time (FT) and number of cine images (CI) for four age groups in Japan, a nationwide questionnaire was posted to 132 pediatric catheterisation of certified facility in Japan, using the conventional post system, to which 43 facilities responded. For diagnostic cardiac angiography, reference values were as follows: Ka,r: 86, 102, 165 and 264 mGy; PKA: 9.3, 9.5, 16 and 34 Gy.cm2; FT: 33, 29, 26 and 30 min and CI: 1904, 1966, 2405 and 1871 images. For therapeutic cardiac angiography, reference values were as follows: Ka,r: 107, 163, 103 and 202 mGy; PKA: 7.5, 18, 7 and 24 Gy.cm2; FT: 56, 52, 42 and 30 min and CI: 3886, 3232, 2212 and 4316 images for less than 1, 1-5, 6-10 and 11-15 y, respectively. To optimal patient exposure from diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac catheterisation, it is therefore necessary to establish reference values for pediatric cardiac catheterisation examinations for four age groups.