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. 2013 Dec 24;128(25):2799-809.
doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.005697.

Effects of external electrical and magnetic fields on pacemakers and defibrillators: from engineering principles to clinical practice

Roy Beinart  1 , Saman Nazarian
Affiliations

Effects of external electrical and magnetic fields on pacemakers and defibrillators: from engineering principles to clinical practice

Roy Beinart et al. Circulation. .

Abstract

The overall risk of clinically significant adverse events related to EMI in recipients of CIEDs is very low. Therefore, no special precautions are needed when household appliances are used. Environmental and industrial sources of EMI are relatively safe when the exposure time is limited and distance from the CIEDs is maximized. The risk of EMI-induced events is highest within the hospital environment. Physician awareness of the possible interactions and methods to minimize them is warranted.

Keywords: electromagnetic interference; implantable cardioverter-defibrillator; magnetic resonance imaging; pacemaker, artificial.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
High frequency noise and “noise response” ventricular pacing are noted on the bipolar ventricular channel from a single chamber pacemaker during MRI.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The atrial (top) and ventricular (middle) bipolar channels in a biventricular ICD reveal high frequency noise due to electrosurgery during cholecystectomy and result in inappropriate delivery of anti-tachycardia pacing.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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