Do media players cause interference with pacemakers?
BACKGROUND
Electrical devices generate electromagnetic fields that may interfere with pacemakers. Media players cause telemetry interference with pacemakers, but it is not known whether they cause direct interference with pacemakers. The purpose of this study was to examine the interaction between pacemakers and 3 different media players.


METHODS
In this prospective, randomized study, 54 patients with dual chamber pacemakers who were in sinus rhythm underwent baseline observation, followed by observation under telemetry communication. These patients were then randomly evaluated with 3 media players (iPod 3G, iPod Photo, and iPod Touch Apple, Cupertino, CA) with and without telemetry communication for 1 minute each. Patients were monitored for pacemaker malfunction using a single-channel ECG during exposure to media players. The pacemaker was interrogated after each exposure and an interrogation report was printed for evaluation. Pacemaker interference was categorized as type I, II, or III. Types I and II interference described telemetry interference and type III interference was defined as any direct interference with pacemaker function or programmed parameters.


RESULTS
A total of 54 patients (29 men and 25 women; mean age 77.2 +/- 9.3 y) were evaluated. In total, of the 162 tests (for telemetry interference) 36.4% were positive (Type I and II). Type III interference was also evaluated in 162 tests and none showed any evidence of direct interference.


CONCLUSIONS
Media players cause telemetry interference with pacemakers, but they do not directly interfere with pacemaker function.
Thaker
Jay P
JP
Thoracic and Cardiovascular Institute, Sparrow Health System, Michigan State University 405 West Greenlawn, Suite 400 Lansing, MI 48823, USA. Thakur@msu.edu
Patel
Mehul B
MB
Shah
Ashok J
AJ
Liepa
Valdis V
VV
Brunett
Joseph D
JD
Jongnarangsin
Krit
K
Gardiner
Joseph C
JC
Thakur
Ranjan
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013686:Telemetry