Fluoroscopy-guided placement of nasoenteral tubes in children using intermittent digital pulse fluoroscopy and last image save/grab technique.

AIM: To document the radiation exposure metrics, including fluoroscopic radiation time and radiation dose-area product, in children <18 years of age who undergo nasoenteral tube placement using fluoroscopic guidance with maximal dose-reduction techniques.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following institutional review board approval, the age, gender, anatomical information, immediate procedure-related complications if any, fluoroscopy time, and radiation dose-area product were collected retrospectively in all paediatric patients who underwent fluoroscopically guided nasoenteral tube placement during a 5-year period. Three paediatric radiology faculty members, a radiologist assistant, and trainee residents during their paediatric radiology rotation performed the procedures on two different digital fluoroscopic machines using radiation-minimising techniques. Median values of the fluoroscopy time and radiation dose-area product were calculated and compared to values reported in the literature using the Wilcoxon procedure.

RESULTS: There were 41 male and 33 female patients with a median age of 4 years and 6 months. Median fluoroscopy time used for placing a nasoenteral tube was 1.25 minutes with a median radiation exposure dose-area product of 0.245 Gy·cm(2). All patients had successful placement of nasoenteral tube without immediate procedure-related complications.

CONCLUSION: Fluoroscopy-guided nasoenteral feeding tube placement can be performed successfully with minimal radiation exposure without compromising procedural success.