What is it about?
There exists much confusion and misunderstanding on whether it is safe to have an MRI when you have an older cardiac rhythm devices (ie pacemakers or internal defibrillators). We demonstrated that individuals may still safely undergo MRI if deemed necessary or required without having to have "upgrade" their device.
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Why is it important?
MRI is often withheld from patients who are appropriate candidates for this imaging, in particular, for those who require surgical planning or further elucidation of pathophysiology. In an era of "MRI-conditioned" pacemakers and internal defibrillators, patients may be referred for an upgrade in their device, leaving them open to an additional procedure with potential risks/harms, just to undergo MRI. We demonstrate that it is safe to undergo MRI under careful observation and safety protocols as established in the MagnaSafe study.
Perspectives
There are many facets and nuances to the data we present that do not deal directly with what we published. Rather, it is in the informed decision making when we discuss whether a patient can have an MRI for procedures outside of cardiology. Up to now, it has been generally assumed that patients with older devices should not undergo MRI and/or they are recommended to undergo an upgrade to an MRI-conditional device first before they have an MRI. A) our current data suggests that MRI should not be withheld if there are appropriately trained staff and protocols are followed B) even going forward, patients needing cardiac rhythm devices do not need to have an MRI conditioned one, that they may still have any number of the existing non-MRI conditioned devices and be able to undergo MRI.
Viet Le
Intermountain Health Care
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Real world MRI experience with nonconditional and conditional cardiac rhythm devices after MagnaSafe, Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, November 2017, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/jce.13351.
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