From the Guidelines
You can generally get an MRI with a cardiac stent, as most contemporary coronary stents are considered MRI-compatible. According to the 2011 ACCF/AHA/SCAI guideline for percutaneous coronary intervention 1, patients implanted with most contemporary coronary stents can undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination any time after implantation.
Key Considerations
- The effect of the MRI examination on heating of the drug or polymer coating used in DES is unknown, but this does not seem to pose a significant risk.
- There is no indication for antibiotic prophylaxis before dental or invasive procedures in patients with coronary stents.
- It is essential to inform your healthcare provider and the MRI facility about your stent, including the specific type and when it was placed, to ensure safety and adjust MRI parameters if necessary.
MRI Compatibility
- Most modern cardiac stents are made of non-ferromagnetic materials, which are considered MRI-compatible.
- The magnetic fields from the MRI do not typically cause stent movement or heating once the stent is properly healed in place.
- While there may be a recommended waiting period after stent placement, the guideline suggests that MRI examination can be performed any time after implantation, without specifying a waiting period.
From the Research
MRI Safety with Cardiac Stent
- The safety of undergoing an MRI with a cardiac stent has been studied extensively, with most research indicating that it is safe to do so 2, 3, 4, 5.
- A study published in 1998 found that all current stents are MRI safe and that an MRI can be done at any time 2.
- Another study published in 2019 confirmed that MRI is a safe technique in patients with prosthetic heart valves and coronary stents, with most patients able to undergo MRI at 1.5 T and 3 T 3.
- Research from 2007 analyzed published data and found that MRI performed with systems having field strength up to 3 Tesla does not cause migration and heating of both bare and coated stents, and is not associated with increased risk of coronary artery thrombosis 4.
- A study from 2003 examined the rate of adverse cardiac events in patients undergoing MRI less than 8 weeks after coronary stent placement and found that the risk of cardiac death or MI due to stent thrombosis is low, and postponing MRI does not appear to be necessary 5.
- It is worth noting that one study from 2006 discussed the use of beta-blockers for cardiac CT, but did not provide relevant information on MRI safety with cardiac stents 6.