FDA Issues Warning: MRI May Cause Serious Injuries To Patients With Implanted Neurological Stimulators

The FDA has issued a public health notification that "serious injury or death can occur when patients with implanted neurological stimulators undergo MRI procedures"

According to the FDA they have received reports of serious injury including coma and permanent neurological impairment in patients with implanted neurological stimulators who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies.  The devices sited by the FDA were deep brain stimulators and vagus nerve stimulators although the FDA cautioned that similar injuries could also be caused by any type of implanted neurological stimulator including spinal cord stimulators, peripheral nerve stimulators and neuromuscular stimulators.  The full public health alert can be viewed by clicking here .