New battery--MRI needed?

I had an EnRhythm Medtronic implanted 4 years ago (it is not MRI-compatible) and am due for a new battery in the next year. I am plagued with (probably arthritic) knee pain and it is impacting my overall health through losing lower body flexibility and strength. I would like to be able to get an MRI. I live near Stanford and San Francisco. I wrote a similar note months ago but can't find the excellent advice I was given. I am a 68 year old female. Many thanks in advance.

5 Comments

mri-compatible

by Tracey_E - 2015-08-21 03:08:28

Replacing the device won't make it easier to have an mri because the leads would also have to be mri-compatible. Removing the current leads to replace with compatible ones is a much more involved surgery, higher risk, and jmho but unless there is a really compelling reason, I would not do it simply for the ability to have an mri. Here is why
1. Having mri-compatible system doesn't mean you can go just anywhere and have an mri. Not all places can do it, and there is a protocol to be followed.
2. More and more places can do mri's safely on people with non-compatible pm's. They like the leads to be less than 10 years old, tho I've heard of a few older than that done safely.
I would get your knee dr to talk to your cardiologist and see what your options are.

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accredited

by doublehorn48 - 2015-08-22 05:08:19

I also have a medtronic pm. Neither my pm or leads are mri compatible.

I had a mri 4 months ago. The Doctor that did the mri told me there were 8 people in the country that were accredited to preform this mri.

My mri was done in Houston so I'm sure one or more people on the west coast are qualified.

I have 4 leads into my heart, 2 no longer working. My risk was greater because of the number of leads. But I had no problems.

I believe he said that 2 people out of several hundred that he had seen had actually had problems.



Peppo

by Peppo - 2015-08-22 09:08:03

I had MRI with Medtronic non compatible pm, in London UK 6 months ago. PM fitted in2001. All ok.
I am due to change generator and atrial lead in sept. Space to fit new lead alongside old.

Have been advised if the old lead is left in,it will not be possible in the future to have an MRI . Does anyone know different? Accredited we're Your 2 leads disconnected prior to MRI?

Offered to try to remove old lead,using laser? Lead
15 years old. So have some reservations. Is it worth the risk?

Peppo

by Tracey_E - 2015-08-22 10:08:19

If you've already had an MRI once, why would they say you can't do it again? I would avoid the extraction if at all possible, but that's a personal choice. 15 years is the average life of a lead, but they can last many years longer than that. We have members with working leads that are 30+.

I was in almost your exact situation 5 years ago- ventricular lead needed replaced, atrial lead 15 yrs old and going strong, room for a third. I looked into extraction but chose to leave well enough alone and add the new lead to what was already there, put off the extraction as long as I can. Extraction gets better and lower risk all the time, leads get smaller and tougher, the number of experienced surgeons go up. I know I'll need it at some point in my lifetime because I fully expect to outlive what I have now, but I'd rather put it off if I can.

mri with pacemaker

by doublehorn48 - 2015-08-23 12:08:47

Peppo, my 2 leads on left side are and were connected during my mri. I have 2 disconnected from my right side. My 2 disconnected leads from right side made the mri more of a risk. Tattoos also make for a higher risk, especially those done with red ink. Just thought I would throw that in.

1 of my leads is frayed and will, most likely, need to be replaced before my pc battery runs down. Lead extraction will be sooner rather than later.

The Cleveland Clinic states that lead extraction is a simple procedure. Their success rate is 99.5%. They have one Doctor that has done over 3,000.

To me a simple procedure is turning off the t.v. with the remote. My success rate isn't 99.5%.

Wantok get the best people you can and the mri will be a breeze. I feel the warnings are given for insurance purposes. I got through it and we all know women are tougher than men.

You know you're wired when...

You have a 25 year mortgage on your device.

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