Boston Scientific Accolade MRI EL Model L331 undergo MRI scan

I have a referral from my neurosurgeon for an MRI cervical spine scan with my Pacemaker.

My Pacemaker is the Boston Scientific Accolade MRI EL Model L331, and was implanted on 15/03/2019. I am very concern regarding the impact of the MRI scan on my pacemaker. I read it has a MRI mode where they can adjust the impedance so that I can undergo a MRI, after which they will reset it back to normal. Can anyone please confirm this, and who sets my pacemaker? 

I thank you in anticipation of your response.

2 Comments

Safety of MRI

by Gemita - 2024-05-21 06:33:28

Yes, you are correct.  If you have an MRI conditional pacemaker, MRI scanning can safely take place when certain conditions have been met.

For example, before an MRI procedure, a cardiac technician attends the appointment and places our pacemakers into a safe mode after which scanning can be carried out.  At the end of the scan they restore all your settings back to pre-scan values and check that your pacemaker is working normally before they let you go.  Some MRI technologists prefer a member of the cardiac team to be present during the whole procedure, but this isn’t always necessary, especially when a patient is not pacemaker dependent or is very stable without dangerous heart rhythms for which anti tachycardia pacing will need to be switched off for the duration of the scan.

My husband and I, both in the UK have had a few MRIs without incident in the last few years.  Our pacemakers are Medtronic, implanted in 2018.  Unless we have abandoned or damaged leads and providing both device and leads are MRI conditionally safe, there is no reason why we cannot have that all important MRI, once certain conditions have been met to ensure our safety during the scan.

You might need to go to a main hospital where they carry out lots of MRI scans on pacemaker patients and get your doctor to send a message to the MRI technologist, confirming your heart condition and confirming the safety of your device and leads in an MRI environment, once all the conditions for safe scanning have been met.   I attach a link for further reading (please copy and paste into your browser to open) which you may already have seen since we have recently had a number of MRI posts?

Good luck and please don't worry.  With the appropriate pre and post scanning checks advised and carried out, you will stay safe

https://www.britishcardiovascularsociety.org/resources/editorials/articles/magnetic-resonance-imaging-in-patients-with-cardiac-implantable-electronic-devices-current-recommendations

Thank you Gemita

by leeroy17 - 2024-05-21 21:55:52

Hi Gemita,

Thank you for your prompt response in outlining the safety procedure for an MRI mode scan with a pacemaker. 

I now feel at ease after reading your comprehensive procedure. I thank you again for your effort and time.

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker interferes with your electronic scale.

Member Quotes

Sometimes a device must be tuned a few times before it is right. My cardiologist said it is like fine tuning a car.