Blurred MRI scan images caused by persistent Afib.

[Butterfly65]

Hello all,

Was just wondering If anyone else had an MRI for HF, only to later discover that the normally gold standard MRI images had been skewed by their Afib?

Had been waiting since the 22nd of October for results only to be told by cardiologist last Thursday that my cardio MRI images that were done at Papworth were of poor quality because of my Afib, therefore he couldn't give me a full diagnosis. ( Been waiting since being admitted to hospital 31st of August last year)

He said he wanted me to have a cardioversion & that it didn't matter if it only lasted for 3 to 4 days, because it would enable me to see how I would feel back in normal rhythm, & to hopefully have a CT scan without interference from my Afib.

I've been extremely tired since hospital admission, currently taking 7 meds for afib & HF.

Although I did receive some good news during my appointment, I'm still disappointed about the MRI.

The cardiologist who booked the cardio MRI knew that I had Afib so I'm unsure as to why a cardioversion wasn't attempted before I had the MRI.

Is it usual for Afib to cause havoc with MRI & CT scan images?

I meant to ask my cardiologist this question but I think he asked me another question so it was forgotten about.

Thanks.

[BobD Volunteer]

Sorry but I have not heard of this situation regarding MRI and AF.

[Butterfly65 in reply to BobD]

Thanks, do you mean that you haven't heard of AF skewing MRI scan image results before?

Would those with just AF,

but with no other heart damage picked up by an echocardiogram normally need a cardiac MRI scan or a CT scan Bob?

[Fullofheart]

Yes, I was told by my cardiologist not to bother with MRI if I went back into AF after one of my ablations. When I rang the MRI dept to cancel, they said come anyway as they do loads of people with AF and they'll get some images.But the cardiologist could only then get an estimated ejection fraction which is what we were after. He seemed to think it was a waste of time to have an MRI if in AF and he advocated for the less expensive echocardiogram instead.

After third ablation when I did achieve sustained NSR another MRI was done, which was much clearer.

[Fullofheart]

I think it's highly improbable for 2 departments to work together to have a cardioversion before an MRI. In reality, you'd have to have it same day or next day to have any certainty that the cardioversion would hold. Apart from the unlikely scenario of that being coordinated, I don't think anyone would want those 2 things so close together. I would think most likely scenario if you were scheduled for a cardioversion then the MRI could be scheduled for after that (which might be some months after) and could be cancelled if back in AF.

[ellamental]

I don’t know if Afib usually causes MRI’s to be hard to read. I have a cyst in my brain so had a head MRI In Stratford. Then saw head of neurosurgery at Oxford who said there are MRIs and MRIs and mine was like looking at an out of focus photo. I then had another MRI at the JR in Oxford with gandolphin and he was able to read that one easily.