Clinical safety of magnetic resonance imaging in patients with implanted SynchroMed EL infusion pumps

• Published in: Neuroradiology Vol. 53; no. 2; pp. 117 - 122
• Main Authors: Diehn, Felix E., Wood, Christopher P., Watson, Robert E., Mauck, William D., Burke, Michelle M., Hunt, Christopher H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.02.2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Diagnostic Neuroradiology; Equipment Failure - statistics & numerical data; Equipment Failure Analysis - statistics & numerical data; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Imaging; Infusion Pumps, Implantable - statistics & numerical data; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic Resonance Imaging - statistics & numerical data; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Minnesota - epidemiology; Nervous system; Neurology; Neuroradiology; Neurosciences; Neurosurgery; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Patient safety; Perception; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Pumps; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Radiology; Spine; Transplants & implants; Vision; Young Adult; Minnesota; Safety; Medtronic; MRI; SynchroMed; Spinal infusion pumps; Human; Nervous system diseases; Implant; Radiodiagnosis; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging
• ISSN: 0028-3940; 1432-1920
• DOI: 10.1007/s00234-010-0737-y

Introduction Patients with implanted SynchroMed spinal infusion pumps (Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN) routinely undergo magnetic resonance imaging at our institution. In August 2008, Medtronic issued an urgent medical device correction report regarding several pumps. Because of the rare potential “for a delay in the return of proper drug infusion” and “for a delay in the logging of motor stall events,” “a patient’s pump must be interrogated after MRI exposure in order to confirm proper pump functionality.” This is particularly important in patients receiving intrathecal baclofen, for whom a delay in return of proper pump infusion could lead to life-threatening baclofen withdrawal syndrome. The objective of this report is to present our experience and protocol of performing magnetic resonance imaging in patients with implanted SynchroMed EL pumps. Methods We retrospectively reviewed records of 86 patients with implanted SynchroMed EL spinal infusion pumps who underwent 112 examinations on 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging scanners from September 1, 1998 to July 7, 2004. Results No SynchroMed EL pumps were damaged by magnetic resonance imaging, and the programmable settings remained unchanged in all patients. Conclusions Our data suggest that SynchroMed EL pump malfunction is indeed rare after routine clinical 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging examinations. However, based on the Medtronic correction report, we perform pump interrogation before and after imaging.