MRI compatable Pacemaker

[Kimkat]

Does anyone on here have an MRI compatable pacemaker? If so, how do you know that it’s ok, where does it tell you or have I been given some duff information?

[bantam12]

You need to ask at your pacing clinic.

My late husbands pm was ok for MRIs and he had many scans done, he had to have his pm tweaked both before and after each scan so could only them done in the same hospital.I'm not sure about my pm, as I don't like having MRIs and prefer CTs I'm happy to keep saying no it's not compatible but I am going to ask my pacing tech next time im in.

[Kimkat in reply to bantam12]

Thanks Bantam12, I was given a booklet that isn’t actually the same as the pm I had inserted, I discovered that after looking at the card that has all the information on it. My GP wanted to send me for an MRI for a torn bicep tendon, which I would love to have, as I’ve been in a lot of discomfort for 10 weeks now but as soon as I said that I have a pm, she obviously said that wasn’t possible but didn’t offer a CT which is a bit disappointing.

[Buddy00 in reply to bantam12]

If you know what PM you have then look it up online or get in touch with your pacing clinic and they will easily be able to tell you all this information.

[Kimkat in reply to Buddy00]

Yes I’ve done all that but difficult to work out, too much medical info on there obviously not designed for the layman to understand.

[cowparsley]

The type should be on the card you were given to carry with you .Do you have a card?if so you can look up the type.Failing that,as someone else suggested,phone the pacing clinic.Good luck.

[Kimkat in reply to cowparsley]

Yes I did check and eventually found my model but it’s difficult to decipher the medical jargon, I rang the clinic and whoever I spoke to said that someone would call me. I still waiting 😐

[cowparsley]

Well that`s a step in the right direction.You can always call again if you think you`ve been forgotten.Keep trying.😃

[juanitamc]

I had a pacemaker fitted a year ago and have had 2 MRI done now, The Cardiologist doctor told me to mention about the pacemaker when I went to have the MRI and they can do something to change the settings on the scanner.Hope this helps

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to juanitamc]

An MRI machine has various settings. The higher the power the clearer the image. Typically these are from 1.5T upwards where T stands for Tesla (which is 10,000 Gauss). So it may be that your pacemaker is fine at 1.5T but not 3T. Some pacemakers may be fine at the higher setting so the technicians must be fully aware you have a pacemaker and its type.

In the midst of the pandemic last year the FDA approved a bedside MRI that can be plugged into a 13A socket. I do not think there are any here yet.

[Kimkat in reply to juanitamc]

You wouldn’t happen to know which make and model you have do you?

[juanitamc in reply to Kimkat]

Yes I have the Medtronic - W3DR01 Pacemaker

You should of had some paperwork given to you when you left the hospital after your implantation, so you can carry with you.

[Kimkat in reply to juanitamc]

I was given a leaflet but it was for a Medtronic, mine is a Boston Scientific, they couldn’t find the accompanying paperwork apparently so gave me a different one for information.

[Enonykasper]

Hiya I have had a pace maker system it’s called it’s a pace maker and Icd

I’ve only had it 10 weeks

Reading this I decide to read my information I received I

I have some information and on it tells me not to have an mri for at least six weeks but that I must tell But that I have and Icd

It doesn’t so anywhere I can’t have one

But like you my husband wondered if I could have MRI 👍🏻

[Fishywishy]

The brand and the model of the pacemaker is printed on my my pacer passport and includes the letters MRI.

[Kimkat in reply to Fishywishy]

Can’t see anything like that on mine, so maybe mine isn’t compatible however I have looked on the Boston website and it looks as if it maybe Ok but I’ll leave it to the cardio team to let me know but thanks.