Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE
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Pacing Clin Electrophysiol · Apr 2009
Clinical TrialSafety and imaging quality of MRI in pediatric and adult congenital heart disease patients with pacemakers.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a standard of care in evaluating many disease processes. Given concerns about device damage or movement, programming changes, lead heating, inappropriate pacing, and image artifact, MRI is contraindicated in pacemaker patients. Despite this, studies have demonstrated safety and efficacy of MRI in adults with acquired heart disease and endocardial pacing leads. We sought to evaluate MRI use in congenital heart disease (CHD) patients with predominantly epicardial pacing leads. ⋯ Diagnostic quality MRI can be performed safely in nonpacemaker-dependent CHD patients with predominantly epicardial leads. Further studies will define safe practice measures in this population, as well as in CHD patients with pacemaker dependency.