title: Monocenter feasibility study of the MRI compatibility of the Evia pacemaker in combination with Safio S pacemaker lead.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of the magnetic resonance (MR) conditional pacemaker (PM) system (Evia SR-T and DR-T with Safio S leads) under MR conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with standard PM indications and Evia PM were eligible for enrollment in this single center prospective non-randomized pilot study. Patients underwent MR of the brain and lower lumbar spine at 1.5 Tesla. Atrial (RA) und ventricular (RV) lead parameters (sensing, pacing threshold [PTH], pacing impedance) were assessed immediately before (baseline follow-up [FU]) and immediately after MRI (1st FU), after 1 month (2nd FU) and 3 months (3rd FU). The effect of MR on serious adverse device effect (SADE) free-rate, on atrial and ventricular sensing (AS/VS; mV) and atrial (RA) and ventricular (RV) pacing thresholds (PTH; V/0.4 ms) were investigated between baseline and 2nd FU. Continuous variables are expressed as mean ± SD and were compared using paired Student's t-test. A p < 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-one patients were enrolled. One patient had to be excluded because of an enrollment violation. Therefore, data of 30 patients (female 12 [40%], age 73 ± 12 years, dual chamber PM 15 [50%]) were included in this analysis. No MR related SADE occurred. Lead measurements were not statistically different between the baseline FU and the 2nd FU (AS/VS at baseline 3.2 ± 2.1/15.0 ± 6.0, at 2nd FU 3.2 ± 2.1/14.9 ± 6.5; p = ns. RA-PTH/RV-PTH at baseline 0.68 ± 0.18/0.78 ± 0.22, at 2nd FU 0.71 ± 0.24/0.78 ± 0.22; p = ns). The presence of the permanent pacemakers led to MR imaging artifacts on diffusion weighted sequences of the brain, but did not affect other sequences (e.g. FLAIR and T2 weighted spin-echo images).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of the MR conditional Evia PM in a MR environment under predefined conditions is feasible. No MR related SADEs nor clinically relevant changes in device functions occurred.
authors.affiliation: Hospital of St, Pölten-Lilienfeld, Department of Cardiology, St, Pölten, Austria. Christian.wollmann@stpoelten.lknoe.at
authors.forename: Christian G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Wollmann
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vock
authors.forename: Bonaventure
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ndikung
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mayr
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016477:Artifacts; D001317:Austria; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010092:Oximetry; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013686:Telemetry; D013997:Time Factors