MRI and pacemakers

I had my first device completely removed a year ago as I was not using it as I have an ablation 7 year before

Six week's a go I had an emergency admission to hospital needed to have a new pacemaker as my heart went haywire and was stopping for longer than 5 seconds. The pacemaker they put in was a sorin Kora 250 DR this is said to be MRI safe.. I am now back in hospital needing a MRI scans and not able to find a place where they will perform the scan. I have MS as well as arrhythmia problems I was wondering if anyone in the UK has had any problems

6 Comments

Shield ?

by oldearthworm - 2015-11-07 10:11:23

Why not used a lead shield, if there is concern ?

Paula

by IAN MC - 2015-11-07 11:11:30

It seems that in the UK some MRI centres are very nervous about doing scans on any PM patients even though recent studies have shown that the perceived risks have been overstated.

I see that you live in Hertford so you wouldn't have to go too far to find a centre which may be able to help you. I know that there have been positive published papers from the Royal Brompton Hosp in W London on this very subject. I suggest that you try there ( you would of course need a referral from your GP or cardiologist )

Best of luck

Ian

PM in Safe Mode

by wxman - 2015-11-07 11:11:47

Lead shield will not do anything against a Magnetic field from a MRI.

Who monitors your PM? They should be able to inform the MRI folks that you have a MRI-Safe PM and how to do the MRI. On my MRI safe Biotronik, they place it in Safe mode before the MRI. You also could try to contact the PM manufacture.

As a last resort, a CT scan could possibly be used, depending on what exactly they're looking for.

Paula

by IAN MC - 2015-11-08 04:11:07


I will private message you with the info

Ian

Mri scans with pacemaker

by Paula12 - 2015-11-08 11:11:07

Thanks for your comments I have been to the royal Brompton before with my previous pacemaker Whitchurch was removed as I had a successful ablation this was done at St barts and they took it all away and was able to have a MRI scans.

I would like to know where I can see the publish papers as the only info I have is the one that was implanted by Dr brian gordon in papworth hospital in Cambridge on 31 July 2015

Kora

by golden_snitch - 2015-11-09 06:11:19

Hi!

The Sorin Kora automatically switches into an MRI-safe mode and back. There is no need to change settings before the MRI and change them back afterwards. It's the only device so far that has this automatic switch. I know a patient with the Kora who had an MRI, and it was absolutely no problem.

Call the manufacturer, they will be able to tell you places where the scan can be performed.

Good luck!

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