Heart, lung & circulation
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Heart, lung & circulation · Feb 2011
The Australian and New Zealand cardiac pacing and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator survey: calendar year 2009.
A pacemaker (PM) and Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) Survey was undertaken in Australia and New Zealand for the calendar year 2009. ⋯ For 2009, the number of new implants for Australia was 12,523 (11,850 in 2005) and 1277 for New Zealand (1134 in 2005). The number of new PM implants per million population was 565 for Australia (590 in 2005) and 299 for New Zealand (275 in 2005). Both countries had substantial increases in PM replacements. There were 446 biventricular PMs implanted in Australia (461 in 2005) and 45 in New Zealand (16 in 2005). Pulse generator types were predominantly dual chamber with 71% for Australia (72% in 2005) and 54% for New Zealand (51% in 2005). Transvenous pacing leads were overwhelmingly bipolar with marked increases in the use of active fixation leads; Australia 80% atrium, 75% ventricle and New Zealand 65% atrium, 62% ventricle. There was also a marked increase in the number of new ICDs implanted; Australia 3555 (2864 in 2005) and New Zealand 329 (134 in 2005). The new ICD implants per million population were 160 for Australia (142 in 2005) and 77 for New Zealand (33 in 2005). The usage of biventricular ICDs was 33% for Australia and 13% for New Zealand.
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Heart, lung & circulation · Feb 2011
ReviewSCAI consensus document on occupational radiation exposure to the pregnant cardiologist and technical personnel.
Concerns regarding radiation exposure and its effects during pregnancy are often quoted as an important barrier preventing many women from pursuing a career in Interventional Cardiology. Finding the true risk of radiation exposure from performing cardiac catheterisation procedures can be challenging and guidelines for pregnancy exposure have been inadequate. ⋯ Current data do not suggest a significant increased risk to the foetus of pregnant women in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory and thus do not justify precluding pregnant physicians from performing procedures in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory. However, radiation exposure amongst pregnant physicians should be properly monitored and adequate radiation safety measures are still warranted.