CardioExchange Archive

CardioExchange, an NEJM practice community for medical professionals dedicated to improving cardiac patient care, was active from 2009 to 2015. CardioExchange fostered discussion between clinicians from across the globe.

November 1st, 2011

Hand-Held Metal Detectors Used in Airport Screening ‘Probably Safe’ for Patients with Implanted Cardiac Devices

Hand-held metal detectors, used frequently at airports, are “probably safe” for patients with pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), according to an Annals of Internal Medicine study.

Researchers in Germany examined the effects of two types of widely used hand-held metal detectors on cardiac device function in some 390 patients with pacemakers or ICDs. Each detector was set at the highest possible magnetic field and then passed over the patient’s chest for 30 seconds during ECG monitoring. Over 60 cardiac device models were tested.

There were no ECG abnormalities either during or after exposure to the metal detectors.

The researchers say their findings are consistent with those from previous studies of metal-detector gates, but call for confirmatory research because of various limitations to their own study (e.g., they used a convenience sample of patients).

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