Certain medications used to control and treat abnormal heart rhythms can affect the ability of the pacemaker to successfully stimulate the heart to contract. Therefore, patients with pacemakers should be sure the surgeon who is to perform the procedure is aware that they have a pacemaker. The surgeon may then consult with a cardiologist about any special steps to take during the surgical procedure. The strong magnetic fields generated during an MRI procedure can have various effects on the pacemaker. In addition, the presence of any implanted metal object in patients undergoing an MRI is potentially dangerous.
Cellular phones can interfere with pacemaker functioning.
Digital phones are more likely to cause problems than analog phones. Keeping the cellular phone at least 6 inches away from the pacemaker may decrease the chances of problems. Issues regarding cellular phones should be discussed with the patient's heart doctor. The walk-though metal detectors used at airports are not generally regarded as posing a significant problem for pacemaker functioning. Although in some older pacemakers such metal detectors may inhibit the pacemaker for one or two heart beats, this usually does not cause any symptoms.