MRIs with a MRI safe device

MRI

by Gemita - 2019-11-01 21:14:37

Jo S hello, if you scroll down the recent messages you should find my response to an earlier request from a member asking someone to share their experience having an MRI post pacemaker. 
My husband had an MRI without any difficulty although it took a long time to get clearance from the relevant departments !  Judging from the lack of response from this forum, I presume MRIs are not routinely carried out on pacemaker patients. Anyway please let me know if you cannot find my posting on hubby's experience and I will copy and paste tomorrow 

Thank you Gemita

by Jo S - 2019-11-01 22:37:04

I found it.  I should have looked through the recent responses first.  That was exactly the kind of thing I was looking for.

MRI

by Gemita - 2019-11-01 22:59:31

Jo S glad you found it. I don't know if you have read elsewhere but I note some members have helpfully posted that not only must our pacemakers be confirmed MRI safe but we should also check that the "leads" are MRI safe too before proceeding to the scanner!!  So much to consider but safety is paramount.  Good luck and good night

Not only the PM and the leads must be MRI safe but...

by AgentX86 - 2019-11-01 23:45:03

That fact, in those words, has to be in your medical record, as well.  The model and serial numbers aren't good enough.  MRI staff are abslolutely paranoid about these things.  ...and yes, there will be someone standing by to reprogram the PM.  This is why you should never go to an MRI-in-a-box sort of place.  You'll need to go to a hospital that has an EP department.

MRIs

by LondonAndy - 2019-11-02 13:12:12

I have now had two MRI scans.  No big deal at all for me, (no ill effects) and I am pacemaker dependent - 100% paced.  But each time the hospital where it was done had to have a pacemaker technician present before the scan to put the device into basic mode, and then after the scan to restore it to normal mode again.  5 minutes for each of these tasks, maximum.

But AgentX86 is right - MRI staff are paranoid about doing them, perhaps understandably given that you are going inside a huge magnet, and the first time my local hospital would not do it at all - I had to go to a heart specialist hospital.  I am not sure how much is from before the pacemakers were MRI proof or is still valid, but I am glad they take these things so seriously and you will be fine.

I have many times!

by ametcalf86 - 2019-11-02 23:04:39

Hello! It is not a big deal. They do it at a hospital like place with doctors present. The person programs it before you go in and when you come out. They set it to pace at one rate for the whole time you are in there. It's almost like having a pacemaker check-up. Hope this helps!