In Vitro Investigation of Prosthetic Heart Valves in Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Evaluation of Potential Hazards
Diethard Pruefer MD, Peter Kalden MD, Wolfgang Schreiber MD, Manfred Dahm MD, Michael Buerke MD, Manfred Thelen MD, Hellmut Oelert MD

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is performed in an increasing number of patients after cardiac valve replacement. Ferromagnetic biomedical implants are often considered as a potential hazards with respect to their movement, dislodgment, or heating effects during the procedure. Seventeen common heart valve prostheses were examined in vitro using a high-field-strength 1.5 Tesla (T) MR system. No significant force was exerted on the examined heart valve prostheses, and no biological significant heating effects were detected. Artifacts were less evident using a spin-echo sequence than a gradient-echo sequence. MR procedures performed with a 1.5 T MR system can be applied safelyin patients with any of the currently used heart valve prostheses evaluated in this study.