Magnetic resonance imaging safety in pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator patients: How far have we come?

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has long been regarded a general contraindication in patients with cardiovascular implanted electronic devices such as cardiac pacemakers or cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) due to the risk of severe complications and even deaths caused by interactions of the magnetic resonance (MR) surrounding and the electric devices. Over the last decade, a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms responsible for such potentially life-threatening complications as well as technical advances have allowed an increasing number of pacemaker and ICD patients to safely undergo MRI. This reviewlists the key findings frombasic research and clinical trials over the last 20 years, and discusses the impact on current day clinical practice. With'MR-conditional' devices being thenewstandard of care,MRI in pacemaker andICDpatients has been adopted to clinical routine today. However, specific precautions and specifications of these devices should be carefully followed if possible, to avoid patient risks which might appear with new MR technology and further increasing indications and patient numbers.