Magnetic resonance imaging induced rapid cardiac pacing in a patient with a dual chamber pacemaker, likely due to radiofrequency pulsing interacting with the pacemaker's output circuit.
Case Report (n=1)
Does magnetic resonance imaging cause rapid cardiac pacing in patients with a dual chamber pacemaker?
MRI can induce rapid cardiac pacing in patients with dual chamber pacemakers, likely due to radiofrequency pulsing interacting with the pacing lead.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) generates potent electromagnetic forces in the form of a static, gradient, or pulsed radiofrequency magnetic field that can result in pacemaker malfunction. This report documents a case of rapid cardiac pacing during MRI in a patient with a dual chamber pacemaker. Although the mechanism of rapid cardiac pacing is unclear, it was directly related to radiofrequency pulsing. We postulated that the lead acts as an antenna for radiofrequency energy that interacts with the pacemaker's output circuit, thus, causing cardiac pacing at a cycle length representing a multiple of the repetition time; or perhaps rapid pacing is related to induced currents generated between the MRI unit and the pacing lead.
Fontaine et al. (1998) conducted a case report in Pacemaker patient undergoing MRI (n=1). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was evaluated on Rapid cardiac pacing. Magnetic resonance imaging induced rapid cardiac pacing in a patient with a dual chamber pacemaker, likely due to radiofrequency pulsing interacting with the pacemaker's output circuit.