PVCs

Has anyone out there ever had an MRI with their CRTD or Pacemaker that is not MRI approved?  I am having an MRI soon and my EP said they will take precautions to make sure sure nothing happens during the  MRI.  There will be the EP Doctor, Cardiologist, Radiologist and Metronic person to watch everything.  This is being done at a Heart hospital and this is the only MRI machine that does this for people with and without MRI compatible pacemakers.  I am having 800 PVCs and hour and they want to run this test before my ablation.  Thanks for your answers!

debbie

3 Comments

There's at least one contributor here who has...

by crustyg - 2023-10-12 05:01:34

...and who reported that they could feel their leads heating up near the PM.

At lot depends on which part of your body they want the MRI imaging from.  Upper chest is the most difficult if your device+leads are not formally accredited as MRI-conditional (i.e. safe if the device is also put into MRI mode).

I suspect hardly anyone would much care if you needed an MRI of a knee joint.

You seem to be under the best care possible

by Gemita - 2023-10-12 06:07:27

Debbie, from your comment, "there will be the EP Doctor, Cardiologist, Radiologist and Metronic person to watch everything.  This is being done at a Heart hospital and this is the only MRI machine that does this for people with and without MRI compatible pacemakers" it would appear that they are doing everything possible to try to keep you safe. 

You might find some reassurance/guidance in the link I have provided.  Please copy and paste into your main browser to open.  Have a read and see what you make of it and then take any questions to your doctors.

I know it is a real concern with incompatible leads/devices, but if we attend a main hospital where they have lots of MRI experience with patients with implantable devices, we will have the best chance of a safe outcome. I know several members have been told that even with incompatible leads, if they absolutely needed an MRI, it could be done.  I hope all goes well for you and those PVCs can be tamed.

https://www.britishcardiovascularsociety.org/resources/editorials/articles/magnetic-resonance-imaging-in-patients-with-cardiac-implantable-electronic-devices-current-recommendations

mri

by Tracey_E - 2023-10-12 11:41:15

They've been doing this commonly in Europe for 15 years. It's only become common in the US in the last few years. 

I have not personally but I have a friend who has had 3 or 4 now. She has 10+ year old pacer leads, not mri compliant, but she has an aneurisym they need to keep an eye on. She has not had a single problem. 

You know you're wired when...

You fondly named your implanted buddy.

Member Quotes

In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.