How to determine MRI risk without knowing what kind of stent you have.
March 19, 2008 5:08 PM Subscribe
Should my father be worried about having an MRI because he has a stent that was implanted after a heart attack? (It's supposed to happen in 12 hours!)
My father has been waiting for an MRI (for what is probably a gall bladder problem) while the hospital/doctors sort out what kind of stent he has and whether there is any risk due to ferro-magnetic interaction.
The test has been delayed while this was sorted out. Today he received a phone call from the hospital saying that he was approved and the MRI is on for tomorrow. He asked how the approval was obtained, and the hospital told him that they spoke to his MD to get the details on his stent, and checked with the manufacturer.
However, he tried to call his MD to confirm, and found out that he is on vacation. He also tried to reach his cardiac surgeon, and he is also on vacation.
So that sounds a little worrying. However, the stent was implanted in 2003 at the same hospital where he is having the MRI, so presumably they have the records and could have actually confirmed the safety. Also I see this and this which are comforting without being authoritative.
He doesn't know what kind of stent it is, just that it was implanted in 2003.
He intends to go to the appointment tomorrow and ask for more details before having the procedure, but I think he is inclined to do what they tell him, while still being a little uneasy about the whole thing.
Can anyone point me to resources that would help us understand the risk? The appointment is at 7:30 AM EDT so he won't have time to contact anyone in the morning to get further information. He has to agree to the MRI or not.
My father has been waiting for an MRI (for what is probably a gall bladder problem) while the hospital/doctors sort out what kind of stent he has and whether there is any risk due to ferro-magnetic interaction.
The test has been delayed while this was sorted out. Today he received a phone call from the hospital saying that he was approved and the MRI is on for tomorrow. He asked how the approval was obtained, and the hospital told him that they spoke to his MD to get the details on his stent, and checked with the manufacturer.
However, he tried to call his MD to confirm, and found out that he is on vacation. He also tried to reach his cardiac surgeon, and he is also on vacation.
So that sounds a little worrying. However, the stent was implanted in 2003 at the same hospital where he is having the MRI, so presumably they have the records and could have actually confirmed the safety. Also I see this and this which are comforting without being authoritative.
He doesn't know what kind of stent it is, just that it was implanted in 2003.
He intends to go to the appointment tomorrow and ask for more details before having the procedure, but I think he is inclined to do what they tell him, while still being a little uneasy about the whole thing.
Can anyone point me to resources that would help us understand the risk? The appointment is at 7:30 AM EDT so he won't have time to contact anyone in the morning to get further information. He has to agree to the MRI or not.
Best answer: Having done MRI research for a few years, I can say that no one is going to take concerns about ferromagnetic risks lightly. If they've cleared him for the MRI, they are very damn sure that he's safe to scan.
If he's really concerned, he can ask for an X-ray to clear him before the scan. However, if they've already decided it's not necessary, then I would imagine he'd get charged for the X-ray. Maybe the peace of mind would be worth it to him; only you two can figure that out.
posted by Stacey at 5:50 PM on March 19, 2008
If he's really concerned, he can ask for an X-ray to clear him before the scan. However, if they've already decided it's not necessary, then I would imagine he'd get charged for the X-ray. Maybe the peace of mind would be worth it to him; only you two can figure that out.
posted by Stacey at 5:50 PM on March 19, 2008
This is in the USA right? The medical malpractice and liability suit capital of the known universe? Which is just to say that if they're saying it's safe I'll be they are 100% sure it's safe. Mind you, if they ask him to sign a stack of papers higher than his medical records when they get there and suddenly need new waivers for some reason, then I'd be worried.
That said I was in an MRI with my metal belt buckle on and the staff said it really didn't matter all that much, and to let them know if it moved. Well, you can bet I was darn well paying attention to any dangerous moverment "down there" and it never moved at all that I could feel.
posted by tiamat at 5:52 PM on March 19, 2008
That said I was in an MRI with my metal belt buckle on and the staff said it really didn't matter all that much, and to let them know if it moved. Well, you can bet I was darn well paying attention to any dangerous moverment "down there" and it never moved at all that I could feel.
posted by tiamat at 5:52 PM on March 19, 2008
Response by poster: I should have said--it's in Canada, in Ontario, in a reasonably wealthy and sophisticated community.
posted by lockedroomguy at 5:59 PM on March 19, 2008
posted by lockedroomguy at 5:59 PM on March 19, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by spaceman_spiff at 5:36 PM on March 19, 2008