Assignment 2: Pacemaker causes death after contradiction with MRI scan
A pacemaker is a medical device that is located in the chest area to regulate abnormal heart rate. This is possible with the generation of small amount of electric impulses that sends electrodes to contract the heart at its atrioventricular (AV) node. (PacemakerDiagram)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is a medical imaging technique that creates images from different angles the body for diagnostic purposes. The principle behind an MRI scan is a strong and constant magnetic field and radiofrequency. Metal objects are not allowed anywhere near active MRI scans. With that said, it can interfere with the electric impulses being sent out from the pacemaker, which in turn, …show more content…
Updating such medical records is important as they can affect their future visits to the hospitals. In Brown’s case, updating of the pacemaker’s information should be one of the most important update as it will affect her MRI scan. Updating her information, be it on records or acknowledgement of staff verbally, is very important as it means either life or death for the patient. Although her medical records were updated, verbal precautions to the in-charge was not told thus causing …show more content…
(February2011)
Limitations for the pioneering pacemakers are:
• Unique lead system - generator cannot be replaced and plugged into other ports.
• New lead system does not support cardiac MRI because of possible high temperature. However, second-generation devices are now accessible in Europe (using same lead system as cardiac MRI)
• Limitation to scanners with 1.5-tesla.
There were no adverse events that happened during the first round of testing. Although early ventricular contractions were measured, it was not significant enough to cause complications. Abnormalities of the pacing seem to be momentary and reversible. After scanning or even at one-month follow-up, there were no effects detected concerning the generator voltage or lead function (in the pacemaker).
Till now, there are many MRI-compatible pacemakers in the market and the figure below shows an example of
A pacemaker is a medical device that is located in the chest area to regulate abnormal heart rate. This is possible with the generation of small amount of electric impulses that sends electrodes to contract the heart at its atrioventricular (AV) node. (PacemakerDiagram)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is a medical imaging technique that creates images from different angles the body for diagnostic purposes. The principle behind an MRI scan is a strong and constant magnetic field and radiofrequency. Metal objects are not allowed anywhere near active MRI scans. With that said, it can interfere with the electric impulses being sent out from the pacemaker, which in turn, …show more content…
Updating such medical records is important as they can affect their future visits to the hospitals. In Brown’s case, updating of the pacemaker’s information should be one of the most important update as it will affect her MRI scan. Updating her information, be it on records or acknowledgement of staff verbally, is very important as it means either life or death for the patient. Although her medical records were updated, verbal precautions to the in-charge was not told thus causing …show more content…
(February2011)
Limitations for the pioneering pacemakers are:
• Unique lead system - generator cannot be replaced and plugged into other ports.
• New lead system does not support cardiac MRI because of possible high temperature. However, second-generation devices are now accessible in Europe (using same lead system as cardiac MRI)
• Limitation to scanners with 1.5-tesla.
There were no adverse events that happened during the first round of testing. Although early ventricular contractions were measured, it was not significant enough to cause complications. Abnormalities of the pacing seem to be momentary and reversible. After scanning or even at one-month follow-up, there were no effects detected concerning the generator voltage or lead function (in the pacemaker).
Till now, there are many MRI-compatible pacemakers in the market and the figure below shows an example of