Review of the radiation exposure during screening of surgically implanted central venous access devices

PurposeIonizing radiation is used for the insertion of surgically implanted venous access devices (SIVADs) with children at the highest risk of cumulative radiation effects from these procedures. This study examines the radiation dose in a pediatric population during intraoperative radiological screening.MethodsA retrospective study looked at all pediatric patients in a tertiary hospital between January 2008 and January 2014 who had a surgically implanted venous access device inserted using intraoperative fluoroscopy. Patient demographics, reason for SIVAD insertion, the type and method of insertion, fluoroscopy time and radiation dose area product were determined.ResultsA total of 505 patients had 682 SIVADs inserted, with 123 patients receiving multiple SIVAD over the six year period. There were two types of SIVAD inserted, 492 were totally implanted venous access devices (TIVAD) and 190 were tunneled central venous catheters (cuffed central line). Five hundred seven of the SIVAD inserted recorded the dose area product and fluoroscopy time. The median time for screening was 5 seconds (range 1 to 275 seconds) and the median dose area product was 0.00352 mGym2 (range 0.000001 mGym2 to 0.28 mGym2). Of the 507 SIVAD that recorded the radiation data, 479 were open surgical cut-down insertion and 27 were percutaneous insertion. Percutaneously inserted surgically implanted venous access devices (mean 0.0060 mGym2) had a longer dose area product than open insertion (mean 0.0034 mGym2; p = 0.05).ConclusionScreening of SIVAD involves low levels of radiation exposure and is comparable to a chest x-ray or a transatlantic flight. The excess lifetime cancer risk to patients is estimated to be very low and is considered to be outweighed by the benefits of insertion. Open surgical cut-down insertion has a significantly reduced radiation exposure compared to percutaneous techniques. Although radiation dose is higher with percutaneous procedures, the clinical effects are considered minimal, and the resultant radiation risk is estimated to be very low. Radiation dose should not determine technique of insertion of SIVAD.