MRI Compatible Pacemakers

I am scheduled to have my PM replaced later this year. After 9 years without any troubles the battery is getting low. I am considering asking for an MRI compatible model.

Are there any restrictions on who can receive one? Is there any downside to these models? Are they larger? Is it more difficult to change the settings?
Thanks!

8 Comments

I also have one

by dobiedi - 2014-04-24 08:04:13

I got mine in Dec and wasn't given a choice and I was in there from the 24th until they finally put it in on the 27th. I also would like to hear about other peoples feelings on this subject

I am getting my first implant

by 2219kg - 2014-04-24 08:04:17

Tomorrow. I will be getting the Medtronic MRI compatabile pacemaker. I will ask My Cardiologist in the morning. My understanding is that the pacemaker has MRI compatible leads. You may have to get new leads? Wish me luck.

I have one

by hs2o - 2014-04-24 08:04:20

Just had my Medtronic MRI compatible PM implanted in February. I have already had the settings adjusted. It was an easy thing for them to do. I sat in a chair. They put a magnetic device attached to a computer over the pacemaker and made the necessary changes.

I have no idea about restrictions on who can receive one. It might depend where you live and availability.

The nurses at the hospital showed me a whole whack of different pacemakers and my Medtronic looked like it was the smallest.

I'm curious to see if anyone else can provide insight into any downsides to these PMs. I didn't have much choice as there was little warning and I had it implanted in an emergency situation within 18 hours of arriving at hospital.

mri-compatible

by Tracey_E - 2014-04-24 08:04:51

You need both compatible leads and device, so there isn't really a benefit to getting the mri-compatible pm if you have existing leads.

9 years is a good lifespan! I've been through 4 of them now and 7 is the best I've gotten. Jealous :)

probably not

by Tracey_E - 2014-04-25 03:04:56

I don't think mri-compatible leads were around 9 years ago, and if you have the leads they would have given you a compatible pm to go with it. As Inga said, it's getting more common for us to be able to have an mri with old leads, so in a situation where we really needed it there are more options than there used to be. I'd be more likely to go with those options than extract perfectly good leads.

MRI-safe pacemakers

by golden_snitch - 2014-04-25 07:04:11

Tracey is right, you need the MRI-conditional leads, too, and in fact the leads are more important than the MRI-conditional pacemaker unit. So, you'd have to have the leads replaced with MRI-safe leads, if you want to be on the safe side.

There is some discussion going on about whether you really need one of the new MRI-safe pacers/leads to safely undergo an MRI. Mayo and Johns Hopkins have shown that patients with "normal" pacers and ICDs can have MRIs without any problems, too, if certain precautions are taken. So, if I were you, I'd not push for lead replacement and an MRI-safe unit + leads right now. If you should ever desperately need an MRI, I'm quite sure that there will be a clinic willing to do it - might have to travel, but it's really not completely impossible.

Inga

MRI Compatible PM

by Enrique - 2014-04-25 11:04:55

Thank you all, your comments have been very informative.
My leads are 9 years old and probably they are not mri-compatible (I will confirm this). Leads are difficult to replace, so I guess I will not bother with an MRI-compatible PM

MRI Surescan

by Traciek - 2014-04-27 06:04:00

I was implanted with the Medtronic MRI SureScan on March 24th, I had to have an MRI compatible one as I have a tumor around my pituitary gland, the only thing in was told is that even though its MRI compatible I have to wait 3 months before having an MRI. I'm not having any major issues with it, I just have some pain in weird places on the left side, and under the breast bone, and bruising still but its only been a month so I think that's to be expected. Good Luck

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