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Case Reports
. 2025 Sep;55(10):2211-2214.
doi: 10.1007/s00247-025-06325-z. Epub 2025 Jul 31.

Temporary transvenous external pacing for cardiac MRI in a pediatric patient

Mehrad Rokni  1 , Shotaro Naganawa  1 , Misagh Piran  1   2 , Daniel Cortez  1   2 , Ahmadreza Ghasemiesfe  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Temporary transvenous external pacing for cardiac MRI in a pediatric patient

Mehrad Rokni et al. Pediatr Radiol. 2025 Sep.

Abstract

This report discusses the use of temporary transvenous external cardiac pacing during cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Despite its feasibility having been explored in adults, its application in pediatric patients is not well established. We present a case of a 6-year-old female with a high-degree atrioventricular (AV) block managed with an externalized temporary pacing system for MRI. This system enabled cardiac MRI for further treatment planning, eliminating the immediate need for permanent pacemaker implantation. This case underscores the feasibility of conducting cardiac MRI in pediatric patients requiring temporary pacing, contingent upon the utilization of appropriate equipment and protocols.

Keywords: Arrhythmias, cardiac; Cardiac pacing, artificial; Heart block; Magnetic resonance imaging; Pacemaker, artificial; Pediatrics.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflicts of interest: None

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A 6-year-old girl presented with bradycardia secondary to type II Mobitz and intermittent complete heart block. Anteroposterior chest radiograph shows the appropriate placement of the transvenous pacing lead, with its tip in the right ventricle and the externalized pacemaker generator taped to the skin
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A 6-year-old girl with high-degree atrioventricular (AV) heart block. a Short-axis, unenhanced, balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) cardiac MR image shows acceptable image quality for evaluating cardiac motion and myocardial structure with minimal artifact. b Four-chamber unenhanced bSSFP cardiac MR image demonstrates susceptibility artifact in the right chest wall related to the externalized pacemaker generator. Susceptibility artifacts are also observed in the right cardiac chambers due to the pacing lead. These artifacts affected <5% of the imaging field and did not impact functional analysis. c Short-axis unenhanced triple inversion recovery T2-weighted cardiac MR image shows no myocardial edema and no significant artifact. d Short-axis fast gradient echo (FGRE) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiac MR image shows no abnormal myocardial enhancement. e Four-chamber FGRE late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiac MR image shows no abnormal myocardial enhancement
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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