title: Intermittent, erratic behaviour of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator secondary to a hidden magnetic source of interference.
abstract: Interference between pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) and electromagnetic fields are of great concern due to the potential harmful influence on the function of the device. We report a case of intermittent, erratic behaviour of an ICD secondary to electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by small magnets that were incorporated into the patient's clothing.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Arrhythmia Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, GRB 109, Boston, MA 02114, USA. rbeinart@partners.org
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beinart
authors.forename: Mary L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Guy
authors.forename: Patrick T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Ellinor
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003020:Clothing / Q000009:adverse effects; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D004868:Equipment Failure; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059346:Magnets / Q000009:adverse effects; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000628:therapy*