What To Expect Before Cardiac MRI

You'll be asked to fill out a screening form before the test takes place. The form may ask whether you've had previous surgeries, whether you have any metal objects in your body, and whether you have any medical devices (like a cardiac pacemaker) surgically implanted in your body.

Most, but not all, implanted medical devices are allowed near the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. Ask your doctor or the technician operating the machine if you have concerns about any implanted devices or conditions that may interfere with the MRI.

MRI can interfere seriously with some types of implanted medical devices.

• Implanted cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators can malfunction.
• Cochlear (inner-ear) implants can be damaged. Cochlear implants are small electronic devices that are used to help people who are deaf or who can't hear well to get an idea of the sounds around them.
• Brain aneurysm (AN-u-rism) clips can move due to MRI's strong magnetic field. This can cause severe injury.

Your doctor will let you know if you shouldn't have a cardiac MRI because of a medical device.

Your doctor or technician will tell you whether you need to change into a hospital gown for the test. Don't bring hearing aids, credit cards, jewelry and watches, eyeglasses, pens, removable dental work, and anything that's magnetic near the MRI machine.

Tell your doctor if you have a history of becoming anxious or fearful when in a fairly tight or confined space. This fear is called claustrophobia (klaw-stro-FO-be-a). In this case, your doctor might give you medicine to help you relax. Your doctor may ask you to stop eating 6 hours before you take this medicine on the day of the test.

Some of the newer cardiac MRI machines are open on all sides. Ask your doctor to help you find a facility that has an open MRI machine if you're fearful in tight or confined spaces.

Your doctor will let you know if you need to arrange for a ride home after the test.