Medical and Dental Procedures

Many medical procedures will not affect the heart device. However certain medical procedures introduce electrical current into the body that may affect an implanted device. Before undergoing any medical procedure, it is recommended that you advise the treating doctor or dentist of the implanted heart device, and consult with a heart doctor to evaluate any possible associated risk.

  Acceptable

If the item is used as intended and in good working condition there is no known risk:

• Acupuncture - no electrical stimulus
• Acupuncture DC - direct current
• Bone Density Test (x-ray)
• Bone Density Ultrasound - on heel or hand
• Bone Growth Stimulator Direct Current
• Capsule Endoscopy
• Colonoscopy - diagnostic only
• Dental Drills /Dental Pulp Tester /Dental X-ray
• Dental Ultrasonic Scaler/Cleaner 
• Diagnostic x-rays (fluoroscopy)
• Digital Infared Thermal Imaging (DITI) 
• Electrocardiogram (ECG / EKG) 
• Electroencephalography - EEG 
• Electrostagmography (Audiology - ENG) 
• Hearing Aid (in or behind ear)
• Heart Rate Monitor
• Ionophoresis (drug patch)
  
• Laser Surgery 
• Lasik eye surgery
• Lie detector test
• Mammography
• Medical Helicopter
• Nuclear Stress Test
• PH Capsules
• Position Emission Tomography (PET Scan)
• Relief Band
• Sleep Apnoea Machine

  Acceptable with Precautions

Inform the treating physician of the implanted heart device and/or consult with your heart doctor/clinic. Medical procedures that require some precautions:

• External Defibrillator, AED and Elective Cardioversion
• Hyfrecator
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
• Intferential Electrical Current Therapy
• Lithotripsy
• Magnetic Therapy
• MET (Microcurrent Electrical Therapy) Alpha-Stim 100™
• Mechanical Ventilation with a Respiration Rate Monitor
• Muscle Stimulators and Other Devices Sending Current into Your Body
• Neutron Radiation
• Radiation Therapy (including high-energy radiation therapy)
• Radiotherapy (external x-ray, Gamma Knife™ or radiosurgery)
• Stereotaxis
• Therapuetic Ultrasound
• TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)
• Transmitting loop for Digital Hearing Aid
• TUMT (Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapeutic Device)
• TURP Prostate Test (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate)
• Virtual Colonoscopy Performed with CAT Scan (CT Scan)

  Special Considerations

Inform the treating physician of the implanted heart device and/or consult with your heart doctor/clinic. Medical procedures that may not be suitable for patients with implanted devices: 

Special Considerations (discuss with your physician)

• TENS
• Muscle Stimulators
• Radiation Therapy
• Any device that sends current into the body
• MRI*
• Virtual Colonoscopy with MRI* 

  Not Recommended

• High Frequency (short wave) or Microwave Diathermy
• MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiography)*
• Transurethral Needle Ablation (TUNA®)