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Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute now offering MRI-compatible pacemakers

Carolinas Medical Center, in collaboration with Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, is now one of a handful of medical centers nationally implanting a new type of heart pacemaker designed to allow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

In fact, the first such implant performed in North Carolina was completed successfully at Carolinas Medical Center on Wednesday.

In the past, patients with implanted pacemakers were not able to undergo MRI procedures because of possible complications, such as interference with pacemaker operation, damage to system components, or pacemaker dislodgement.

The new technology represents a “very meaningful advance for patients,” according to Dr. John W. Holshouser, a cardiac electrophysiologist with Sanger, who will be working with the new technology, known formally as the Revo MRI™ SureScan® pacing system.

He said the pacing system provides an excellent way to address long-existing safety concerns regarding patients who have pacemakers implanted, but who might later benefit from MRI procedures to diagnose a number of medical problems – including preferential imaging in oncology, neurology, orthopedics and cardiovascular medicine.

The system was developed by the Medtronic Company, and recently gained FDA approval after extensive clinical trials. It includes hardware modifications to the device and leads that are designed to reduce or eliminate several hazards produced by MRI. Since MRI scanners may cause traditional pacemakers to misinterpret MRI-generated electrical noise and withhold pacing therapy or deliver unnecessary pacing therapy, this new pacemaker includes technology that prevents interference.

In announcing the technology, Medtronic noted that the number of patients with pacemakers is growing at the same time that the use of MRI is increasing. About 40 million MRI scans are performed annually in the United States. MRI is often preferred by physicians because it provides an extraordinary level of detail and clarity for soft tissue imaging.

There is a 50 to 75 percent probability that cardiac device patients will require an MRI over the lifetime of their devices, Medtronic reported. Currently, more than 200,000 patients in the U.S. must forego an MRI scan annually because they have a pacemaker.

“Medical imaging and electronic implantable devices such as pacemakers are important technological advances, particularly for older patients,” said Dr. Holshouser. Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute is really pleased that we can now provide safe access to MRI for our patients. We encourage all patients who are candidates for this type of therapy to consult a physician about which pacing system is right for them.”