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Published on: February 28, 2012
Do airport metal detectors interfere with implantable pacemakers or cardioverter-defibrillators?
Christof Kolb1, Sebastian Schmieder, Günter Lehmann
1Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Elektrophysiologie, Technischen Universität München, Lazarettstrasse 36, 80636 Munich, Germany. Kolb@dhm.mhn.de
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to determine whether airport metal detector gates (AMDGs) interfere with pacemakers (PMs) or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs).
Background:
It is currently unknown whether AMDGs interfere with implanted PMs or ICDs.
Methods:
A total of 348 consecutive patients (200 PM and 148 ICD recipients) have been tested for the occurrence of electromagnetic interference (EMI) within the electromagnetic field of a worldwide-used airport metal detector.
Results:
No interference, such as pacing or sensing abnormalities, was observed in any of the 200 PM and 148 ICD patients; also no reprogramming occurred.
Conclusions:
In vivo testing of PM and ICD systems showed no EMI with a standard AMDG. Clinically relevant interactions with implanted PMs or ICDs seem unlikely.
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