Provision of MR imaging for patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs): a single-center experience and national survey

Patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) were traditionally denied access to MR imaging due to safety concerns.

The aim of this study was to review a single-center experience of MR imaging at 1.5T of patients with CIEDs and survey national availability of this service.

Three hundred thirty-four patients with CIEDs were included in the review. Two hundred nine patients did not progress to MRI due to non MR-conditional CIEDs, retained pacing leads, recent implant insertion, and other patient factors. A record was made of CIED type, number of body parts imaged, numbers of repeat studies and complications. All devices were scanned with cardiology involvement.

One hundred twenty-five patients, 90 males, 35 females, aged 20–91 years progressed to MR imaging. Eighty-six patients had pacemakers, 15 had implantable cardioverter devices (ICDs), and 24 had implantable loop recorders (ILRs). Twenty-one patients had more than one body part scanned. Regions scanned included spine n = 82, joints n = 42, head n = 40, heart n = 8, and abdomen/pelvis n = 13. Twenty-six patients had multiple separate MR studies (range 2–6). Three complications included diaphragmatic stimulation when the device was switched to MR-conditional mode resulting in scan abandonment, device failure post-MRI requiring manufacturer reprogramming, and patient dizziness post reprogramming requiring cardiology review. One cardiac study was non-diagnostic due to artifact from a low left-sided ICD. Imaging of patients with pacemakers is available in 14 of 42 (38%) hospitals with MR units nationally.

MR-conditional CIEDs can be safely scanned with diagnostic quality at 1.5T using a protocol involving radiology and cardiology.