MRI Questions

I have read some of the posts on here, but I am still not clear on what is and is not okay when it comes to having and MRI when you have a pacemaker.
I have had a pacemaker for 22 years. I have never had to have an MRI done, but now because of other medical complications the doctors are saying this may be necessary.
I do have an underlying rhythm (30 - 34 bpm), but I have 2 old leads that are still implanted. Will the leads cause burns? Is it safe for me to have this proceedure or should I ask them to opt for something else.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Carol

6 Comments

NO!!!

by Tracey_E - 2009-01-09 09:01:03

They are making new pm's and leads that are safe with some mri equipment. Not much help to those of us with old leads but it means they're working on it.

They are also developing new mri equipment that they say is safe with pm's. One of our local hospitals got one and my cardiologist, who I have a tremendous amount of respect for, told me that it was ok for me to have one. I was skeptical so I asked a friend who's a radiologist what he thought and he was very emphatic that I not do it. He said the pm will be fine. I may be fine, but I may also end up with permanent damage from the lead burning the heart. He talked me right out of it! Apparently it's controversial topic among radiologists and while some say it's ok, many of them are not comfortable with the risks and will not do it. Ask if the new equipment is available and discuss it with all of your doctors, but my instinct would be to say to see what else they can do instead. Good luck!

Smitty, I asked the same radiologist friend about being in the building around mri's also, they sent me for a ct instead and it's in the next room over. He said that the rooms that have the mri equipment are usually sealed and there are big signs and heavy doors to get in the room so it's safe to be in the building and you won't accidentally stumble into the wrong room.

PM & MRI

by SMITTY - 2009-01-09 09:01:55

Hi Carol,

Everything I have seen says that if we have a present day pacemaker we should not have a MRI. The very strong magnetic imaging field can do harm to the PM and/or change the PM settings.

As for the heat, I can only tell you what my primary care physician told me about having, or being near a MRI device in operation. She said that it was possible for the intense magnetic field to cause heating of the lead(s) and with them inside my heart that could be bad. My wife was hiving a MRI and the Dr. said that I should not even stay in the waiting room while she was having it. Now at this hospital the MRI is performed no more than 30' from the waiting room and that could be the reason for that caution. Regardless, I was not in the waiting room and it is noted on all my records that I cannot have a MRI because of my PM. I have Cat-Scans instead.

I have seen articles where work is being done to perfect a PM that can withstand the magnetic field of a MRI, but so far as I know it is not available yet.

As for a MRI being safe for you, I say ask your doctor, or, even better, contact the PM manufacturer as they will certainly know best.

Good luck,

Smitty

mri

by bullseye - 2009-01-10 03:01:27

hi my husband used to have regular mri scans for a small tumor but since he now has a pacemaker theyve said he can no longer have them so he has ct scans instead i beleve any one with a pacemaker cannot have mri scans

Me Too

by ppt - 2009-01-10 05:01:17

I have been told absolutely no MRI...to be sure to tell my family, friends and co-workers .. and to look to the Drs for alternative diagnostic procedures...

ppt

by Tracey_E - 2009-01-10 07:01:10

Jupiter Hospital is the one with the new equipment, of all places. I still won't use it, lol, but just an fyi in case you're ever curious who in our area will do it.

No Mri

by walkerd - 2009-01-22 05:01:51

Reading info on Medtronic sites, states that mri could cause lead wires to heat up, causing death. I always thought mri = magnetic = pacer comeing out of chest, god how dumb am I.

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