Magnetic resonance imaging safety in patients with abandoned or functioning epicardial pacing leads

TL;DR: This SCMR Expert Consensus Statement integrates consensus guidelines, primary data, and opinions from experts across disparate fields towards the shared goal of informing evidenced-based decision-making regarding the risk-benefit ratio of CMR for patients with CIEDs.

TL;DR: This clinical consensus statement from the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging provides comprehensive, up-to-date and evidence-based guidance to cardiologists, cardiac imagers and pacing specialists regarding the use of imaging in patients after implantation of conventional pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators and resynchronization therapy devices.

TL;DR: In this article , a case study of workers with active implantable medical devices (AIMDs) in a 300 MHz (7 T) NMR research spectrometer was presented, where the level of exposure exceeded the action level threshold limit for workers with AIMD during the execution of tasks requiring the closest proximity to the spectrometers.

TL;DR: The results showed that there was significantly higher RF heating of epicardial leads than endocardial leads in the pediatric phantom, but not in the adult phantom, and the importance of making individual risk–benefit decisions when assessing the potential risks of MRI scans in pediatric CIED patients.

Abstract: Cardiac pacing has been incorporated into so many areas and can be used to treat such a range of clinical conditions, that it has become a pillar of cardiology practice. Technological advances in recent years have led to marked changes in the characteristics and functions of the systems that are used, broadening the horizons for the management of a variety of clinical conditions, while minimizing unwanted effects. However, the paradigm shift goes beyond mere improvements in hardware, software, and lead structure. Compared with previous decades, huge strides have been made in how we assess, follow-up and detect patients’ problems and needs. Indeed, we now talk about not just ‘‘following up’’ patients but also ‘‘monitoring’’ them, which implies a major change in the volume of data, access, responsiveness, and the way we interact with patients. Recent years have also seen the introduction of new technologies, such as leadless pacemakers, which have become highly prominent and, in the future, may become the first choice of treatment. There has also been strong renewed interest in ‘‘physiological’’ methods of cardiac pacing, some of our colleagues being veritable pioneers of these methods. This, and much more, means that the ESC 2021 guidelines on cardiac pacing and cardiac resynchronization therapy include significant changes from their previous version. The most noteworthy aspects are discussed in this editorial.

TL;DR: The next generation of teachers, coaches, and administrators will shape the future of education and training in the Asia-Pacific region through a generation of coaches, trainers, and practitioners known as the “Smart Crowd”.

TL;DR: In this study, device or lead failure did not occur in any patient with a non–MRI‐conditional pacemaker or ICD who underwent clinically indicated nonthoracic MRI at 1.5 tesla, was appropriately screened, and had the device reprogrammed in accordance with the prespecified protocol.