Anyone took MRI with MRI proof Pacemaker

Hi,

I have a Dual lead Medtronic PM installed 2.5 years back. It says its MRI Surescan and my EP said I am OK to get an MRI . Now I have to get MRI for my knee and just wondering if anyone with a MRI Surescan went through an actual MRI before and what's the experience like?

3 Comments

I have

by Elisabet - 2017-02-17 00:18:07

I've had several MRIs since my Medtronic Advisa PM was put in mid-2015. It's MRI conditional and so are the leads, and I have no old non-compatible leads since it was a first-time system for me.

The procedure in my case is that a Medtronic tech has been there to put the device in MRI safe mode - basically a constant rate without any of the bells and whistles. So the programming is just like in the EPs office, but shorter. After the MRI is done the tech will reprogram the device to its former state. So basically you just get a couple of interrogations. I've been able to get readouts from them.

The first MRI I had was in the middle of the night when I had brain bleed (for unrelated reasons - nothing to do with my heart). It was right at the six-month mark and just before I was supposed to get my first "regular" interrogation - we were both suprised to find out I had been pacing all the time since a couple of weeks after the surgery follow-up visit, instead of the very intermittent, less than 1% of the time I had when it was put in. In any case it didn't keep me from having that MRI or other stroke-related ones.

I would want to make sure that the people doing the MRI really know what they are doing with the PM, since they do have to work within certain limits that don't apply to all patients. But I think the safety track record is very good. Some institutions will even do MRIs on people with older systems when they have to, but it's a much higher bar.

Have you had an MRI before (pre-PM)? 

 

Elisabet-Thanks for the quick reply

by seenu302 - 2017-02-17 14:01:26

Mine is Advisa PM as well. I got mine Nov-2014. Your answer is really helpful. I had an MRI before by PM surgery and this is the first time after it.

MRI

by DMN2753 - 2017-03-16 20:44:06

I have had my pacemaker since October 2016.  It is a Metronix.  I was told that I could have MRI's with it.  When I scheduled my MRI I told the scheduler that I had a PaceMaker.  I assumed that would be enough.  It wasn't.  They needed to have a Rep from Metronix to monitor the Pacemaker so I had to reschedule.  

You know you're wired when...

You fondly named your implanted buddy.

Member Quotes

Your heart’s electrical system has a manmade helper. A helper that only knows to do what it is programmed to do and will perform that function day in and day out, without fail. Now, go enjoy your new grip on life.