How to perform magnetic resonance imaging on patients with implantable cardiac arrhythmia devices.

H t M a m i i n h m ( 0 c ntroduction agnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers unrivaled soft issue resolution and multiplanar imaging capabilities. Cariac MRI is capable of accurate characterization of cardiac unction and is uniquely capable of identifying scar fibrosis nd fat deposition, thus making it an ideal imaging modality or the evaluation of patients presenting with arrhythmia. In ddition, the absence of x-ray radiation makes MRI suitable or follow-up of chronic disease and for imaging in young atients and women of childbearing age. Due to the ever xpanding indications for implantation of permanent paceakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), dvancing severity of disease and age of the population, and dvances in device technology, the number of patients with mplantable cardiac devices will continue to increase. It has een estimated that each patient with a pacemaker or ICD as a 50% to 75% likelihood of having a clinical indication or MRI over the lifetime of their device. When performed ith appropriate supervision and following a protocol for afety, many studies over the past 10 years have reported the afety of MRI with selected devices. However, catastrophic omplications with older devices have been reported. Failiarity with each device class and its potential for elecromagnetic interaction is essential for electrophysiologists hose patients may require MRI.