Protect your pacemaker patients from MRI
Protect your pacemaker patients from MRI
It is an accepted practice that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be performed on patients with implanted cardiac pacemakers only under urgent circumstances.
Inhibition, rapid pacing, and induction of arrhythmias have been reported in years past, but it’s also known that such side effects are detectable by monitoring and that they can, in most cases, be prevented.
A recent study now shows, however, that heating of the electrodes is a potentially harmful effect of MRI, and one that cannot be detected by monitoring.1
Temperature increases at electrode tips of up to 63.1 degrees C was observed during 90 minutes of scanning. The investigators evidenced concern that reports of successful MRI in a limited group of pacemaker patients may dilute a general policy of never exposing such patients to MRI.
Reference
1. Achenbach S, Moshage W, Diem B, et al. Effects of magnetic resonance imaging on cardiac pacemakers and electrodes. Am Heart J 1997; 134:467-474.
Subscribe Now for Access
You have reached your article limit for the month. We hope you found our articles both enjoyable and insightful. For information on new subscriptions, product trials, alternative billing arrangements or group and site discounts please call 800-688-2421. We look forward to having you as a long-term member of the Relias Media community.