American Journal of Roentgenology, Vol 168, 1157-1159, Copyright © 1997 by American Roentgen Ray Society

ARTICLES

Safety of MR imaging in patients who have retained metallic materials after cardiac surgery

GG Hartnell, L Spence, LA Hughes, MC Cohen, R Saouaf and B Buff
Department of Radiological Sciences, Deaconess Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

OBJECTIVE: Epicardial pacing wires retained in patients who undergo cardiac surgery are thought to be a relative contraindication to MR imaging. However, to our knowledge no published evidence supports this belief. Because other metallic materials retained after cardiac surgery might represent a hazard to patients who undergo MR imaging, we sought to determine the safety of such imaging. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We examined 200 patients who underwent MR imaging at 1 or 1.5 T after cardiac surgery. Eighty-one were examined with ECG monitoring. The presence of temporary epicardial pacing wires, prosthetic valves, and other metal materials was confirmed by chest radiography. RESULTS: Of the 200 patients reviewed, all had postoperative metallic material visible on chest radiographs. Temporary epicardial pacing wire, cut short at the skin, was seen in 51 patients. Of the 81 patients examined with ECG monitoring, we found that MR imaging produced no changes from baseline ECG rhythms. None of the 200 patients reported symptoms suggesting arrhythmia or other cardiac dysfunction during MR imaging. CONCLUSION: MR imaging can be performed safely in patients who have undergone cardiac surgery and have retained metallic material, including valve replacements and temporary epicardial pacing wires cut short at the skin. MR imaging of patients with pacemakers was not evaluated, and we recommend that pacemakers remain a contraindication to MR imaging.
CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Roguin, J. Schwitter, C. Vahlhaus, M. Lombardi, J. Brugada, P. Vardas, A. Auricchio, S. Priori, and T. Sommer Magnetic resonance imaging in individuals with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices Europace, March 1, 2008; 10(3): 336 - 346. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. N. Levine, A. S. Gomes, A. E. Arai, D. A. Bluemke, S. D. Flamm, E. Kanal, W. J. Manning, E. T. Martin, J. M. Smith, N. Wilke, et al. Safety of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Cardiovascular Devices: An American Heart Association Scientific Statement From the Committee on Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiac Catheterization, Council on Clinical Cardiology, and the Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention: Endorsed by the American College of Cardiology Foundation, the North American Society for Cardiac Imaging, and the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Circulation, December 11, 2007; 116(24): 2878 - 2891. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R. Mikolich and E. T. Martin Constrictive Pericarditis Diagnosed by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Pacemaker Patient Circulation, February 20, 2007; 115(7): e191 - e193. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S K Prasad and D J Pennell Safety of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients with cardiovascular implants and devices Heart, November 1, 2004; 90(11): 1241 - 1244. [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. B. Hunter, M. S. Taljanovic, P. H. Tsau, W. G. Berger, and J. R. Standen Medical Devices of the Chest RadioGraphics, November 1, 2004; 24(6): 1725 - 1746. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Loewy, A. Loewy, and E. J. Kendall Reconsideration of Pacemakers and MR Imaging RadioGraphics, September 1, 2004; 24(5): 1257 - 1267. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F Duru, R Luechinger, M.B Scheidegger, T.F Luscher, P Boesiger, and R Candinas Pacing in magnetic resonance imaging environment: Clinical and technical considerations on compatibility Eur. Heart J., January 2, 2001; 22(2): 113 - 124. [PDF]