mri scan

[Taichid]

can you have a. Head mri scan if you are pacemaker dependent

I have had two answers, one says yes, the other says no. Pacemaker biventricular one,Awaiting answers from cardio team.

Viewsappreciated

[bantam12]

Ask your pacing team, they will know which pm you have and whether they are able to make it safe for the scan.

When I have MRIs my pm is set to permanently pace while the scan is done then reset afterwards.

[CDreamer in reply to bantam12]

Exactly

[Taichid in reply to bantam12]

Thanks for your response. Doctor gas written to cardiac team already But of course it was sent to wrong hospital, despite being told it went to wrong hospital. I had a big problem with my surgery trying to get them to right place where my pacemaker was fitted. Hence another weeks delay.

The problem I have is as I am pacemaker dependent would this have any effect.

[bantam12 in reply to Taichid]

You must have a regular pacing check so you can call your pacing clinic technician and ask, no good and no need for GP to get involved.

The alternative to an MRI may be a CT so ask about that, it’s increasingly necessary for we the patient to do our own research, chasing and organising of appointments and tests, relying on Drs and the nhs system is no longer reliable.

[BobD Volunteer]

Depends on your pacemaker so best discuss with your cardio team. Its all about the magnetism.

[CDreamer]

Yes you can but depends upon

1. How old your pacemaker is, some of the older ones more than 7-8 years old need special attention. If it’s less than 5 years old it more than likely will be MRI safe.

2. The MRI clinic - some of them have been factored out to private firms and they don’t always have the equipment which is basically a cover they put over your chest to protect your pacemaker. For the older PM’s the clinic usually a assign one day to do all of the MRIs for people with PMs.

I’ve had 2 MRI’s since pacemaker and I have RST pacemaker - the card I carry for it and the app both say it is MRI approved - have a look on your card. Ask your pacing clinic, not your cardiac team - it’s the physiologists who have the technical knowledge.

[President2012]

I have had 3 MRI’s since getting a pacemaker. There was no problem they increased my heart rate to a constant 90 BPM for the scan and then re-programmed it back to regular settings afterwards. Only problem I had was that hospitals seem to only do a certain number of MRI’s with pacemaker each month so there can be a bit of a wait sometimes. Best of luck

[CDreamer in reply to President2012]

Also my experience as they do them all on one day.

[opal11uk]

If you ring the Pacing Clinic they will advise you and adjust as necessary. Good luck

[OldGrit]

my latest pacemaker implanted 2021 is MRI safe but the leads not as they’re the original ones implanted in 2008.

[Tapanac]

yes. Both my husband and I have pacemakers and both have had MRIs. Hubby has had two. There was a cardiologist on hand and I think they have to tweak the scanner somehow but no problem at all

All the best

[Dancerbraveheart]

Having an MRI with a pacemaker will depend on the model/make you have. The newer ones allow MRI with possible adjustments made to allow.

[2learn]

Hi, had MRI about month ago. As others say ask your pacemaker team and seems to depend on make of PM, how up to date the MRI machine is and someone from PM team present to make any adjustments. Took me 2 yrs to get one because stroke consultant said no you can't have MRI with PM. I finally asked PM team and they said of course we do them all the time. So it seems PM technicians know more than consultants in my case.

[LPE44]

My PM was implanted in 2019 - had an MRI on my ankle this past summer. They brought in a tech from the PM company who set my pacemaker in "MRI mode" and then reset it afterwards.