Do airport metal detectors interfere with implantable pacemakers or cardioverter-defibrillators?
OBJECTIVE
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.
Kolb
Christof
C
Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Elektrophysiologie, Technischen Universität München, Lazarettstrasse 36, 80636 Munich, Germany. Kolb@dhm.mhn.de
Schmieder
Sebastian
S
Lehmann
Günter
G
Zrenner
Bernhard
B
Karch
Martin R
MR
Plewan
Andreas
A
Schmitt
Claus
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000628:therapy; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D002648:Child; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome