Magnetic Resonance Imaging MRI

I just joined the club today so I don't know my way around yet and this is my first post.  Likely this topic has been discussed elsewhere but my clumsy use of the search algorithm was in vain.   I am the owner of a  Medtronic Percepta CRT-P MRI that was installed on the left side in Dec 2022.  I had rotator cuff surgery on this shoulder in 2020, the result of a bench press injury.   Now it seems osteo arthritis is at work there, the investigation thereof requires an MRI.   From the patient's perspective how does this work?  I know my device is non magnetic, e.g. plastic, stainless steels and copper.  I worry about the programming and the battery. Has anyone been through this that can clue me in?


3 Comments

mri

by new to pace.... - 2023-03-18 17:25:49

Welcome to the club you did not want to belong to.  Since you now have an implanted device, generally the only location to have an MRI is in a hospital.  As they need the Medtronic rep there to put your device in a safe mode and then return it to the correct settings.  Although you do need to get the clearance from your Cardiologist first before your appointment.

Many have gone though this.  I have had many without any problems.

new to pace 

Thanks for the Info

by xAviator - 2023-03-18 18:48:07

Brady and new to pace, many thanks.  Brady I'll look through your comments.  

Pacemaker and MRI

by AgentX86 - 2023-03-18 21:00:46

It's a very straight-forward process, once you get everyone to agree to it.  One hospital outright refused to even talk about it (though said I needed one).  The other needed clearance and pushing and proding before they would do it.  It took well over a month to get their radiologist to agree.

You can't go down to the neighborhood MRIs ARE US store to get an MRI.  It has to be a fairly major hospital with a cardiac unit.  The cost will be 10-20x what the MRIs ARE US would charge.

The basic process is

1. A pacemaker technician will download your settings from your PM into their programmer

2. Set your pacemaker to a fixed pacing mode (AOO, DOO, or VOO, depending on your specific problem) at some fixed rate (e.g. 60bpm).  All unnecessary functions will be turned off, including rate response.

3. MRI taken

4. Your settings are restored from thier programmer back to your PM.

5. Your PM is checked out

6. You go home

I had a brain MRI in 2018 (they didn't find anything) after a siezure and it took over a month to get to step-1 but from step-1 to step-6 it was 30 minutes.

BTW, I also have a Medtronic Percepta Quad (W4TR01) CRT-P.

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