title: Interference between surgical magnetic drapes and pacemakers: an observational study comparing commercially available devices and a new magnetically isolated drape.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Magnetic fields may potentially interfere with the function of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices. Sterile magnetic drapes used to hold surgical instruments are often placed on the patient's thorax, and they are likely to interfere with the function of these devices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients were recruited to compare a new prototype surgical magnetic drape (LT10G™ by Menodys) made with bottom-isolated ferrite magnets to the Covidien magnetic drape we used in a previous study. Twenty additional patients were recruited to compare the prototype drape with four commercially available surgical magnetic drapes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Magnetic interference was found in 33 of the 50 total patients (70 %) when the Covidien drape was placed over the pacemaker. Of the 20 additional patients, 5 patients (25 %) displayed magnetic interference with a second type of surgical magnetic drape. A third magnetic drape caused interference in one patient (5 %), whereas a larger drape of the same model did not interfere in any patient. No patients demonstrated magnetic interference with the prototype drape.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bottom isolation of magnets in the prototype magnetic drape (LT10G™) used during surgery prevents magnetic interference in all patients when placed over the pacemaker. Three of the four commercially available magnetic drapes tested demonstrated magnetic interference. Flipping the prototype drape is not recommended as it may expose non-isolated magnets to the cardiovascular implantable electronic device.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, University of Montreal, 5415 Boul. de L'Assomption, Montreal, QC, H1T 2M4, Canada. valerie@zaphiratos.ca.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3152-1928
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zaphiratos
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Grand-Portage regional Hospital, Riviere-du-Loup, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chiasson
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, University of Montreal, 5415 Boul. de L'Assomption, Montreal, QC, H1T 2M4, Canada.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Drolet
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Benzaquen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lapointe
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, University of Montreal, 5415 Boul. de L'Assomption, Montreal, QC, H1T 2M4, Canada.
authors.forename: Louis-Philippe
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Fortier
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059346:Magnets; D008297:Male; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D058636:Surgical Drapes
keywords: CIED; Drape; Interference; Magnet; Mat; Pacemaker