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Incidence of magnet mode in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators

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Abstract

Purpose

To determine the current incidence of antitachycardia therapy suspension due to magnet reversion in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs).

Methods

From March 2012 to September 2018, all St. Jude Medical ICD interrogations performed at the Deutsches Herzzentrum München were screened for stored events of antitachycardia therapy suspension caused by static magnetic fields (flux densities ≥ 1 mT as defined in St. Jude Medical ICDs) affecting the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensor. Intentional ICD deactivation or inappropriate magnet application in the hospital was classified as non-environmental electromagnetic interference (EMI) whereas in the case of any other stored magnet reversion, the event was classified as presumably environmental EMI.

Results

Data from 201 St. Jude Medical ICD patients (mean age 62 ± 24 years, 165 males/36 females) were included in the analysis. ICD interrogations occurred at a mean follow-up of 25.1 months ± 15.6 months and summed up to a total of 464 patient-years of follow-up. A total number of 43 magnet reversion events were detected in 21 patients. Thirty-two events in 13 patients were presumably related to environmental EMI sources. Suspension of antitachycardia therapy only occurred in a temporary fashion. None of the patients experienced any ventricular tachyarrhythmia during ICD inhibition. The incidence of antitachycardia therapy suspension due to magnet reversion related to presumably environmental EMI sources was 6.9% per patient and year.

Conclusion

Although none of the patients experienced any harmful event, antitachycardia therapy suspension due to magnet reversion is a common issue. Patients should be well-educated about potential EMI sources as well as trained in handling them.

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Acknowledgements

We thank K. Hester, M. Lange, M. Lösel, S. Pilz, H. Sandler, G. Urgibl, S. Wolf, and A. Santos for their invaluable support in the ICD outpatient clinic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin I, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany

    Gesa von Olshausen

  2. Klinik für Anästhesiologie, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany

    Johanna Schorr

  3. Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Klinik für Herz- und Kreislauferkrankungen, Technische Universität München, Lazarettstr. 36, 80636, Munich, Germany

    Christian Grebmer, Severin Weigand, Patrick Blažek, Amir Brkic, Lena Friedrich, Verena Semmler, Christof Kolb & Carsten Lennerz

  4. DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany

    Carsten Lennerz

Authors
  1. Gesa von Olshausen
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  2. Johanna Schorr
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  3. Christian Grebmer
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  7. Lena Friedrich
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  8. Verena Semmler
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  9. Christof Kolb
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  10. Carsten Lennerz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gesa von Olshausen.

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Conflict of interest

G. v. O. has received educational and travel support from Boston Scientific. C. G. has received travel support from Abbott, Biotronik, and Medtronic. P. B. has received travel support from Abbott and Biotronik and lecture honorary from Biotronik. V. S. has received travel support from Sorin Group, Boston Scientific, and St Jude Medical; educational grant from Boston Scientific and St. Jude Medical; and study grant from Sorin Group. C. K. has received travel support and/or lecture honorary from Biotronik, Boston Scientific, Microport, Medtronic, and Abbott; has received study funding from Abbott, Biotronik, Boston Scientific, and Microport; and has served as advisor for Biotronik and Microport. C.L. reports grants from Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, and has received travel support and lecture honorary from Biotronik, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, and Abbott. For the remaining authors, no conflicts of interest are declared.

Ethical approval

The study design was approved by the local ethics committee of the Technische Universität München and patient data were collected in accordance with the institutional ethics guidelines.

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von Olshausen, G., Schorr, J., Grebmer, C. et al. Incidence of magnet mode in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 56, 335–339 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-019-00637-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-019-00637-5

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