MRI

Just discovered that only certain imaging equipment can be used for a MRI scan I require on my knee. I also was told that only certain pacemakers are allowed. I await the Radiology companies return call!

6 Comments

MRI

by GrandmaD - 2013-03-25 03:03:07

MRI's are a definative STOP_DO NOT PASS GO for any of us with a pacemaker, ICD etc. You need to find out if your unit as well as leads are MRI compliant. Most people will find out before they are installed. It is my understandindg that they will never go through with an MRI if there is any question. Make sure they MRI consultants know you have a PM- this could be life threatening. Keep us posted.

Maybe ??

by IAN MC - 2013-03-25 04:03:17

I'm not certain that MRIs are quite as bad as GrandmaD suggests. It used to be believed that an MRI would heat up the leads on your PM and fry your heart ... a sort of MRI-induced ablation BUT there is recent evidence which suggests that this may not be the case :-

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Aug 29 (Reuters) - Evidence is mounting that MRI scans may be safe for people with pacemakers or implanted defibrillators, according to the latest study on the issue that appeared in the American Journal of Cardiology.

Manufacturers currently warn against putting the devices into MRI scanners, whose strong magnetic field might in principle cause the metal wires from the devices to heat up and burn heart tissue. This could also upset the electrical properties of the delicate devices.

For the study, Robert Russo and colleagues at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California, reviewed medical records for 109 patients with pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. Each had undergone one or more medically necessary MRIs such as scans to look for brain tumors.

The devices were turned off during the scans or, if the patients didn't have a viable heartbeat without them, set to a constant rhythm that wouldn't be upset by the scanner's magnetic field.

There were no deaths, no device failures and no heart rhythm disturbances in any of the patients. While there were slight changes in the electrical measurements before and after the scan, they weren't deemed big enough to have any impact on the patients.

"A small number of clinically relevant changes in device parameter measurements were noted," Russo and his colleagues wrote. "However, these changes were similar to those in a control group of patients who did not undergo MRI."

Russo said the findings are not definitive and need to be confirmed in a bigger study, but he and others noted that more and more centers have started doing MRIs on patients with heart devices if there are no other good alternatives.

"With this study, and the several studies prior, there are really no clinically relevant changes that occur in 99.9 percent of the devices that get scanned," said Christopher Kramer, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association (AHA), who was not involved in the study.

Although U.S. health regulators have already approved one MRI-compatible pacemaker, thousands of patients still live with older models. Between 50 and 70 percent of those might eventually need an MRI, Russo said.

© Copyright (c) Reuter

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I'm not sure that I would volunteer to have an MRI with an older PM but recent MRI-compatible models where the leads have been thoroughly tested to make sure they don't heat up should be absolutely fine !

Ian



MRI

by GrandmaD - 2013-03-25 06:03:18

Soryy about that>>>>>>>>> sounds like I over reacted. Thanks Ian! That information is really good to to know.
I will however say that personally I would not take the chance!

Debera

mixed reviews

by Tracey_E - 2013-03-25 06:03:24

If you have an mri safe pm and leads, it's fine!

If you do not, there are a few places who say they can do it safely and we've had members here who have had it done and they came through it just fine. But not just anywhere!!! We have a hospital here who says they can safely do it, special equipment and specially trained staff. My cardio says it's probably ok but up to me. I have a friend who's a radiologist, he talked me out of it. He said radiologists are split if it's safe or not, he is firmly in the No Way side of the fence. Risk of complications is lower than it used to be but in his opinion the complications are serious enough he did not want me doing it unless I reallyreallyreally needed the mri and nothing else would do. In my case, it was a broken foot that still hurt well after it should have healed, not exactly life threatening so I skipped it.

MRI

by Rogynda - 2013-03-25 07:03:06

My last post does not seem to be here so I will reply again.
Thank you Ian, Debera and Tracey got your thoughts. I will contact my Cardiologist before proceeding with anything. The good part is that it is not that important, although it would be good to have a good knee for cycling, walking and Pilates. Craig

MRI

by Rogynda - 2013-03-26 07:03:23

Just had a call from the Radiologist who emphatically said no to a MRI scan. She went on to say that only one brand (not Boston Scientific) and only certain models of this brand are suitable. Craig

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I am just now 40 but have had these blackouts all my life. I am thrilled with the pacer and would do it all over again.