PM and MRIs

The MRI tech will review your PM identification card

by Protimenow - 2020-07-02 20:32:39

I have a St. Jude MRI - in my chest for almost 5 weeks. 

Mine is okay for some, but not all, MRIs. It may be possible that your EP or a PM tech may want to reset the PM just for the MRI. It's also possible that, once the MRI tech reviews your card, you'll be able to get the MRI. 

You will probably still be able to get the MRI - but make sure the MRI lab knows what you've got, and your EP knows that you need an MRI.

MRI + PM

by AgentX86 - 2020-07-02 21:55:07

You will have to have the MRI done in a hospital.  No MRI-in-a-Box places need apply.  Yes, there will be a PM tech standing by to safe your PM so the MRI doesn't upset it, and then to reload your settings after.  It's often a PITA to get everyone on the same page but since you haven't done either yet, you should be able to line things up beforehand.  You'll have your EP's attention so he can forward a release for the procedure. 

I had an MRI on my head.  In my case it was a real PITA because there were three hospitals involve at some point and nobody was talking to each other. Once I got everyone on the same page, it was a very simple and quick procedure.  I was in and out in less than a half hour.

If you can, though, get the MRI before the PM is implanted, even if you can't have the knee procedure until after. Let your otho know what's going on and ask your ortho if this is possible.  It'll make things simpler for all.

Probably good shape, especially as this is happening contemporaneously

by EhlertACE - 2020-07-03 15:01:07

My timing was similar.  I've had an MRI-compatible PM for four years.  The "funny" part of its arrival was that I was schedulef for an ablation, 12 months, unfortunately, post-Maze surgery.  In ablation preparation, they noticed, purely by happenstance, a growth on my kidney.  Apparently my lungs are long, and they had to make sure the imaging saw everything top to bottom...and that got down to the top of my kidneys.  

The ablation was put on hold while they tried to identify the growth.  After two days of opinions bouncing between cardiology, urology, oncology, they decided the PM was a better choice than the planned ablation.  And thank goodness!  It works.  

After several annual follow-up MRIs, I've happily not had a PM concern.  Best of luck to you.

You can read the nuts and bolts here:  https://www.amazon.com/ATRIAL-FRUSTRATION-Cardiac-Arrhythmia-Saga/dp/B0875ZTF7P/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Atrial+Frustration&qid=1593798316&sr=8-1.  

Thank you, and - ablation after PM?

by twodrifters - 2020-07-03 18:34:12

Thanks for your responses.  This makes sense out of a side comment that my EP made about talking to the hospital and to Boston Scientific.  

Also, I have since gotten more info from him advising me to get the MRI first if at all possible.  If I don't then I will have to wait for 6 weeks after the PM implantation to have the MRI.  The knee injury is a painful situation, so I may have to postpone the implantation until after I get the MRI.  Then again, maybe the timing will work out just right.

I assumed that I could always get an ablation later for my frequen symptomatic PACs if needed after seeing how I do with the PM.  Is that a correct assumption that one can still have an ablation even with a PM?

Catheter ablation after pacemaker implant

by AgentX86 - 2020-07-04 20:46:11

Though I haven't had one since I got a pacemaker (there would be no point), a catheter ablation can be done post PM implant.  It takes some care by the EP but it's not unusual.