[Electrocoagulation in patients with cardiac pacemakers: what should be considered?]

Since the early days of pacemaker development electromagnetic interference (EMI) has always been a major concern and challenge to engineers, producers and physicians. The latter has to be aware of adverse effects of certain electric medical devices used near or on a patient carrying a pacemaker. Although highly sophisticated circuits and filters inside modern pacemakers can reject most EMI, concerns still remain and normal pacemaker function can be affected. EMI can be triggered by a variety of medical devices such as electrocautery, magnetic resonance imaging, diathermy, cardioversion and defibrillation, therapeutic radiation and lithotripsy. This article addresses the possible effects of electrocautery and the precautions that should be taken in case such a device has to be used on a patient with a pacemaker.