Implantable devices and magnetic resonance imaging

The indications for cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) are ever expanding, seemingly in parallel to the similar widespread increase in the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), where there are clear advantages of imaging with no ionizing radiation and superior tissue contrast. However, CIEDs have traditionally been considered an absolute contraindication to MRI, posing a major limitation to investigating various pathologies after implantation of such devices. In the last decade the traditional paradigm of avoiding MRI in patients with CIEDs has been challenged with studies demonstrating relative safety at 1.5T under certain circumstances. Now with the recent approval of 'MR conditional' devices, it is becoming increasingly apparent that CIEDs should no longer be considered an absolute contraindication to MRI.