Too much radiation

I have a question for those of you who have had ablation of any kind. I have afib and I had gone to my EP who said that I'm a good candidate for a PVI ablation. He said that I would need to take a CT scan...prior to having the procedure. I have never had a CT scan..and I know there's a considerable amount of radiation that comes along with that....not to mention the radiation from the fluoroscope itself during the procedure.
So...am I overthinking this?? Maybe... but I would like to know how those of you who have had an ablation feel about this. Was this a concern for you.
Will I glow in the dark. (just kidding)

6 Comments

This part

by billylittle - 2013-06-15 11:06:12

This part of the ablation process is the least of your concerns. I have had 3 ablations (burned 244 spots in my heart) and the testing up till the procedure is no sweat. The ablation will leave you with a little pain and soreness. STOP stressing over this! They do thousands of these every day. Besides they didn't kill me!

You will NOT...

by donr - 2013-06-15 11:06:18

...glow inthe dark!

There is a new Siemens CT machine that does the job in a fraction of the time as the older ones.

See if you can find one of those machines.

Don

just do it

by Tracey_E - 2013-06-15 12:06:34

I've had 5 or 6 ct's for various things, so far I do not glow in the dark ;)

Yes, it's a lot of radiation, but it's just one time. Even a few times is not a big deal. I think it's a good idea to minimize radiation and be thoughtful about when we agree to it. I turn down as many tests as possible, but sometimes we need the information. In this case, your afib is more danger to you than any possible side effects of one ct.

Radiation

by golden_snitch - 2013-06-16 03:06:51

Hi!

I had a CT with the machine Don mentioned just a week ago. My EP said the radiation exposure was 1/10 of what was needed a few years ago. It was a so-called "dual-source low radiation CT", and took just a couple of minutes. They did three scans, and each took just 2-3 seconds. This was not my first CT, but definitely the one that was done fastest. I also had eight catheter ablations, the longest taking 10 hours. My EP said that in patients like me one should try to reduce radiation exposure to an absolute minimum since I already had so much. And whenever a CT is needed, I should have it done at a center where they have those low radiation CTs (they're very expensive, not every hospital has them).

Don't worry too much about the radiation. You'll be just fine. And the CT will help your EP to better map your left atrium and ablate the atrial fibrillation (isolate the pulmonary veins).

Good luck!
Inga

Snitch...what color...

by donr - 2013-06-16 08:06:09

...do you glow in the dark? Do you even need a night light?

The average bear (Here we go w/ bears again) hasn't the foggiest idea how much radiation they get from a heart procedure.

I got a lot of very localized radiation from Prostate cancer therapy. So I am sensitive to what I get in abdominal scans. When I saw how much I got from three PM procedures, I almost choked - it was far worse than the cancer radiation as far as whole body exposure was concerned.

I was leery about another recent abdominal scan & voiced my concerns to the kidney specialist who ordered it. It would have been my 5th CT of that region. She said that for what she needed to know the CT was the only method.

While discussing the test w/ the CT tech, she told me about their new machine & not to worry because of the very reduced radiation from it. I think the actual scan took all of 15 seconds & was over.

IMNSHO, I think this is a subj that we all need to be aware of, since the technology is available for us for the seeking & asking. Especially if we are young & face the possibility of many cardiac procedures using fluoroscopy.

Don

I thank you all very much

by Jax - 2013-06-16 11:06:13

Yr input really helped me.

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