Catheterization Lab Images With Drastically Less Radiation

Interventional cardiologist Chirdeep Patel, MD, is using state-of-the-art catheterization lab technology, coupled with artificial intelligence (AI), to break new ground and use 70% less radiation in procedures to clear cardiac blockages.

Dr. Patel, with Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute, says working in LVHN’s newest catheterization lab – and with General Electric’s AI-assisted equipment – has enabled him to “push the envelope” and get quality images while significantly lowering a patient’s radiation exposure.

“There’s a fine balance between what you are able to see and how much radiation exposure there is to both the patient and clinical staff,” Dr. Patel says. “This will catch on and this will be the way other doctors around the country will be performing complex catheterization and stenting. My guess is this will eventually become the standard everywhere over time.”

Dr. Patel has been heading up a project to see if ultra-low radiation settings would provide images to guide the procedures that were as good as those from higher radiation settings. He says with AI helping to personalize radiation based on a person’s size, results have been good. “Our goal was to reduce radiation. Over time, technique has progressed, but radiation levels had not changed. This study shows we can provide a safer experience while getting the same great clinical results.”

Results in the new catheterization lab at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest are not unique to that space. Dr. Patel says results from his research are being applied to other, older catheterization labs as well and radiation reductions there are in the 40-50% range. AI will continue to factor into catheterizations as equipment is upgraded.

Dr. Patel says the success of the significant reduction in radiation used during heart catheterizations means there is far less chance a procedure would have to be stopped because a cumulative maximum exposure had been reached. In those cases, which are infrequent, the patient would rest for a few months and the procedure would be rescheduled. Dr. Patel says the chances of radiation skin damage also are greatly reduced.

“The main reason we started this study was to be able to do more complex procedures without worrying about effects of the radiation,” Dr. Patel says.

Dr. Patel and two cardiology fellows are working on the study, which was presented earlier this year at a national cardiology conference. Dr. Patel expects the study to be published later this year.

People are exposed to radiation in several medical settings, including mammograms and lung screenings. Dr. Patel says it’s important to consider the cumulative effects of radiation, which is where cancer risk lies. “There are necessary reasons for these exposures because they help save lives,” he says. “Lowering exposure in our catheterization labs serves two purposes. It’s safer overall and we can do complex work without potentially having to stop and restart later.”