MRI and pacemakers

Since I am needing an MRI and we are working hard to figure out a way to make that happen, I began searching for info on it. I found this article (among others) that support MRI's for people with pacemakers. Just thought you'd all be curious/interested for future reference.
Have a great day!
http://eurheartj.oxfordjournals.org/content/26/4/325.full

5 Comments

MRI With A Pacemaker

by J.B. - 2010-07-01 03:07:50

Tracie H,

I read the interesting article on having a pacemaker and getting a MRI. They tell what the pacemaker settings should be to keep the pacemaker from going wild and causing harm or death while getting a MRI. Now I have a few other questions which came up when a MRI was proposed for me.

How do they keep the EMF created by the MRI from damaging the pacemaker circuit boards? How do they keep the pacemaker's metallic case from getting hot enough to cause pain and/or damage to the surrounding tissues or pacemaker internals? How do they keep the metal in the pacemaker leads from getting hot enough to cause pain and possible damage to the heart?

Why not go with a PET scan, which is pacemaker compatible, rather than a MRI? I got a PET scan without a problem and the doctor got the information he wanted.

JB

Things that make you go hmmm....

by Tracie H - 2010-07-01 06:07:51

JB -
Interesting questions to which I have no answer. As a matter of fact, I had no idea to ask! Yikes! I've never thought of a PET scan for my issue, I've only heard of PET scans for cancer. This particular doc seriously WANTS an MRI even though the issue turned up clear as day on an x-ray. He is the only surgeon within a 3 hour drive, so I don't have many options. I will surely ask this of my doc and cardiologist. Thanks for bringing all this up and I'll try to report the answers back.

MRI's and PM's

by mrag - 2010-07-01 10:07:03

I would call your pacemaker manufacturer and ask their opinion on getting an MRI. My understanding is the current design and materials in a PM do not agree at all with today's MRIs. Everyone is working on changing that, but that is way off in the future.

Clarification

by Tracie H - 2010-07-01 11:07:08

Sorry - in my original post, I did not mention that I AM having an MRI; it's just a matter of coordinating all the efforts. According to my cardiologist, Mayo has set up a protocol that allows people with pacemakers have an MRI. They've done various studies, I'll be one of the first "regular" people to have it done. They strongly monitor everything and have had no complications. Granted, it's not been an extensive or long-term study, but they feel confident all will be fine especially since I am not pacemaker-dependent. It's set up for Monday, July 11 and will take an enormous amount of people, tests and coordination between two different specialty doctors, two different clinics and pacemaker nurses. If I live through it, I will report back to you. (Just kidding, I'll be fine.)
PS - Medtronic does not recommend MRI's but did acknowledge there have been studies looking at the safety. They look at need vs. possible complications.

Interesting

by ElectricFrank - 2010-07-02 01:07:01

I read the article you linked. I see at least one instrumentation error (or at least not covered). In the pig experiment with a thermistor measuring the lead temperature it is possible that the MRI energy caused local heating in the thermistor that didn't exist in the lead.

I noticed that they didn't mention external pacing during the tests either. This could allow turning the pacer off during the scan. An finally, if the MRI were done in bursts with cool down time between it could limit the heating.

If I had some condition where an MRI was needed for accurate diagnosis, I would be willing have it done at a reputable facility like Mayo.

frank

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