Key result
Application of a magnet to a pacemaker or ICD during surgery without adequate assessment of CIED function can result in inappropriate shocks, CIED damage, or patient injury.
Case Report (n=3)
Applying magnets to cardiac implanted electronic devices during surgery without proper preoperative assessment can lead to inappropriate shocks, device damage, and patient injury, reinforcing the need for detailed preoperative review.
Alerts clinicians to unassessed magnet risks in CIED surgery; leaves open prospective evaluation of preoperative protocols.
The application of a magnet to a pacemaker (intended to cause asynchronous pacing) or implanted cardioverter defibrillator (intended to prevent shocks) during surgery without a clear understanding of actual magnet function(s) or precautions can have unexpected, untoward, or harmful consequences. In this report, we present 3 cases in which inadequate assessment of cardiac implanted electronic device (CIED) function, coupled with magnet application, contributed to or resulted in inappropriate antitachycardia pacing or shocks, CIED damage, or patient injury. Although these cases might be rare, they reinforce the need for a timely, detailed preoperative review of CIED function and programming as recommended by the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Heart Rhythm Society.
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Schulman et al. (2013) conducted a case report in Patients with cardiac implanted electronic devices (CIEDs) undergoing surgery (n=3). Application of a magnet to a pacemaker or ICD during surgery was evaluated on Inappropriate antitachycardia pacing or shocks, CIED damage, or patient injury. Application of a magnet to a pacemaker or ICD during surgery without adequate assessment of CIED function can result in inappropriate shocks, CIED damage, or patient injury.
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