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MRI
Scan And The Pacemaker Patient
MRI scan (Magnet Resonance Imaging) is the most advanced and precise high resolution visual diagnostic procedure and an indispensable diagnostic tool in modern medicine. Furthermore it is clearly superior to the common Computer Tornography, even when talking about the screen investigation of head, skeleton, spine, organs, muscles and joints. It is the most accurate procedure when it comes to tumor diagnosis. Through the interaction between high frequency magnetic fields and radio frequency impulses high resolution interface images of specific body parts are created and data is transmitted to the connected computer system for evaluation. MRI scan finally possible in Patients with Cardiac Pacemaker Patients with a Pacemaker are finally able to benefit from the diagnostic advantages of the MRI scan versus the commonly available Computer Tomography. Until now an MRI scan has been out of question for patients with an implanted pacemaker because one thought that the high frequency magnetic fields and the radio frequency impulses would have caused overheating and/or displacement of the pacemaker as well as the damage of the pacemaker's electronics and even the damage of the heart muscle. During the passed years there have been several reports of successful MRI scans in patients with a cardiac pacemaker, when devices with a comparatively small magnetic power were used. This background information became the context of a clinical study in 44 cardiac pacemaker patients, each of them with the urgent need of a medical diagnosis. MRI scans are not radiation based, are not invasive and are not painful. The method used for the nuclear spin investigation had proven to be absolutely safe and feasible and the device used had a low magnetic force power of only 0.5 Tesla. During the entire investigation the cardiac pacemaker was operating in an asynchronous mode, meaning the heart beat was simulated by an external master clock. In this operating mode the cardiac pacemaker is susceptible to clearly fewer disturbances than during the usually used synchronous mode, in which heart emitted signals are controlled by a sensor and passed on to the pacesetter. Additionally the heart and lung functions of the patients were continuously monitored. The results of the analyzed recorded data had proven, that MRI scan had caused no disturbance of the cardiac rhythms and no increase of the pulse frequency with none of the patients. Furthermore neither one of the patients has had a heat feeling or a pressure feeling in the heart area. MRI scan did not interfere or changed the cardiac pacemaker's internal program. Due to the available realizations MRI scan can be executed safely on a large number of patients with an implanted cardiac pacemaker. Careful Consideration of the Clinical Requirements Based upon these studies Patients with an implanted cardiac pacemaker are finally able to benefit from MRI scans. However, certain clinical requirements are mandatory. Only the use of MRI scan devices with a low magnetic field frequency of up to 0.5 Tesla is allowed. For safety reasons the close cooperation with the present cardiologist is mandatory. The cardiologist evaluates the patients ability to undergo the test, switches the pacemaker into the asynchronous mode and closely monitors the cardiac diagram for the duration of the procedure. Afterwards he resets the pacemaker into its original mode. Only specialized Clinics and MD's using state-of-the-art equipment should be considered.
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However, only devices with a low magnetic
power
may be used. Additionally a close attention must be paid to the correct
operating frequency of the cardiac pacemaker. During the whole
procedure the
heart function of the patient has to be monitored closely.