EMF and pacemaker (ICD)

• by muskeg
• 2017-10-29 22:09:30
• Complications
• 1766 views
• 1 comments

Hello all: just had an ICD installed 10 days ago.

I thought I was a fit, healthy person and much to my surprise some irregular heart rythms had me in the emergency dept of our local hospital. After undergoing a stress test and ultrasound which showed no issues, they performed an MRI to find some scarring on the lower portion of my heart.

I left the hospital with an ICD. All is going well. 

I am set to return to work tommorrow for 6 weeks of modified duty (yah, not) before returning to full duties.

I work as an electrical motor systems tech, working on motors from approx 200 h.p. up to approx 10,000 h.p. and from 208 volts a.c. up to 13,800 volts a.c.

I read the paperwork I recieved from the hospital with interest, warning me about electrical devices perhaps interferring with the correct operation of the ICD.

Searching on the net, stumbled across this website,(thanks for letting me join). Some very interesting reading on here especially the concerns others have had with welding, electric motors and EMF issues and a ton of info.

In preparation for my return to work and to satisfy myself and my empoyer, I did an bunch of web searchs and I made a few phone calls, one of them to Biotronik who supplied a Technical Information Bulletin, a clip of the bulletin follows....

"What is considered a strong magnetic field?
Patients with BIOTRONIK ICDs should avoid static magnetic fields greater than 1.0 millitesla (or 10 gauss) at the implant site. Magnetic fields above this magnitude could temporarily affect the operation of the ICD in patients implanted with these devices. Specifically, the ICD's ability to detect and treat potentially life-threatening arrhythmias could be disabled."

I presented this info to my place of work and they offered to purchase a gauss meter, a meter to have in my possesion as I go about my duties checking for strengths of EMF until I felt comfortable with what I could do and what I couldn't, where I could go and where to stay away from.

I am very thankful all has gone well with the ICD implant, my body is behaving normally again, work is cooperating and will provide a meter... and that I have some numbers to follow for a guide.

I'm guessing I won't be able to test run motors any longer ( think, standing in close proximety while running) and there will be a few other testing procedures I'll have to forego. As testing is only approx. 5% of the job, this duty can be assigned to other employees.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Just thought some the Biotronik info might be of help to some others on the board......

Nov 20, 2017, abit of an update. I've been back at work for 3 weeks now, my place of employment did buy a gauss meter and I have pretty much checked out the place. I have been around and I have run several large a.c. electric motors (4000 volt) with no ill effect....operated a typical warehouse d.c. electric forklift..all good. One issue I have found is with a large induction type bearing heater, right near the heater approx 20 gauss is recorded, two feet away, less then 5 gauss, at the right arms length 2 gauss is recorded at the implant site. A second issue with a piece of test equipment we use, running 1000 amps of a.c. current thru the shaft of a motor's rotor which induces a magnetic field in the rotor's laminations and "squirrel cage" to check for open bars and shorted laminations. Well over the allowed 10 gauss within two feet of this process, needless to say a situation I will stay away from.