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Original article

Vol. 141 No. 0506 (2011)

Pacemakers and magnetic resonance imaging

  • D Weishaupt
  • H Hoppe
  • P Votik
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4414/smw.2011.13147
Cite this as:
Swiss Med Wkly. 2011;141:w13147
Published
31.01.2011

Summary

Electromagnetic fields arising from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can cause various clinically relevant functional disturbances in patients with cardiac pacemakers. Consequently, an implanted pacemaker is generally considered a contraindication for an MRI scan. With approximately 60 million MRI scans performed worldwide per year, MRI may be indicated for an estimated majority of pacemaker patients during the lifetime of their pacemakers. The availability of MR conditional pacemakers with CE labelling is of particular advantage since they allow the safe use of pacemakers in MRI. In this article the current state of knowledge on pacemakers and MR imaging is discussed. We present the results of a survey conducted among Swiss radiologists to assess current practice in patients with pacemakers.

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