Safety of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients with cardiovascular implants and devices

Abstract

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is a new and important tool for the evaluation of patients with cardiovascular disease. Because of relative unfamiliarity, some cardiologists may not be fully conversant with safety issues associated with this technique in patients with cardiovascular implants and devices. The aim of this article is to summarise where the problems are and what solutions are available or forthcoming. In some areas, we will also dispel myths which are sometimes held in the absence of any actual evidence and present a common sense approach which has been adopted by expert centres in clinical practice using 1.5 Tesla (T) scanners.