Editorial

Passengers with Implanted Pacemakers and Cardioverter-Defibrillators: can they be safely screened by hand-held metal detectors?

Clemens Jilek, Stelios Tzeis and Christian Kolb present their research into the safety of using hand-held metal detectors to screen passengers with implanted pacemakers or cardioverter-defibrillators.

Pacemaker and cardioverter defibrillator systems are routinely used for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Function of these cardiac rhythm devices can be impaired by electromagnetic interference from devices and systems emitting magnetic fields, such as cellular phones (1), MP3-players, 50/60 Hz alternating current, induction ovens, and anti-theft protection devices (2, 3).

Security screening at airports has intensified over the last decade, following the 11th September 2001 attacks. Metal detectors are routinely used for detection of ferrous items on passengers. They create a magnetic field that might interfere with implanted cardiac rhythm devices. Therefore people with implanted pacemakers or cardioverter-defibrillators are routinely advised to avoid screening with metal detectors, due to the risk of possible electromagnetic interference. Is concern justified?

We have previously shown that metal detector gates are safe for patients with cardiac rhythm devices (4): A total of 345 people, 200 with implanted pacemakers and 145 with implanted cardioverter-defibrillators, were tested with an airport metal detector gate – CEIA’s Model 02PN10 – creating a maximal electromagnetic ?ux density of 42 ?T. No electromagnetic interference was observed. However security protocols dictate that once metal detector gates indicate the presence of ferrous material, hand-held metal detectors should be used to verify and locate the suspected object of interest. The US Food and Drug Administration has reported 44 instances of possible interference between hand-held metal detectors or anti-theft protection devices and cardiac rhythm device systems (5).

The objective of our study was to systematically assess the risk of electromagnetic interference between two broadly used hand-held metal detectors and implanted pacemakers and cardioverter-defibrillators.

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