Type of pacemaker

• by Bryony
• 2014-01-29 07:01:39
• Batteries & Leads
• 1264 views
• 0 comments

Hi Betts,
As other posts have said it very much depends on whether your pacemaker is an MRI conditional type. You should have been given a card with all the information on it re the pacemaker. If you ring up the MRI unit where you normally have them and ask to speak to the Superintendent/Lead MRI Radiographer. Tell her/him the name, type, model number - as much information as posible about it. Also tell them the name of the Cardiologist, hospital where it was done , the date, contact phone number of the Cardiologist secretary as well if possible.
In the UK the patient needs to write and sign a letter of consent allowing the Radiographers to obtain your implantation notes. Without this the secretary will not be able to releae any information about you (patient data protection regulations).
The Radiographer will be able to obtain the implantation notes, check them to ensure it is the conditional type. Not all MRI units scan even MRI conditional pacemakers because of the logistics of getting everyone/everything in place to do so. If your normal unit does'nt then ask them if they know where they do.
The manufacturer also tends to know which MRI units are scanning them as they are ususually present when the scans are done or at least the first handful.
Its best to do it ASAP to give the MRI Radiographers plenty of time to get all the information to be able to give you an answer.It can take any where between 2-6 weeks if unlucky to obtain the op notes depending where they are stored.
I am a Lead MRI Radiographer so knows what it takes to obtain op notes, it can be very very frustrating!!
As from Monday when I have a pacemaker implanted I will no longer be able to do my job but could have a MRI as a patient!!!
Hope this is of some help.
Bryony