St Jude's Aortic valve+MRI

Posted by anne on August 01, 1999 at 11:59:18
Is it safe to have a MRI when you have a St. Jude's Valve in place?
Are these valves made of Titanium or graphite?

Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on August 02, 1999 at 10:38:46
Dear Anne
Though the conventional wisdom is that this is unsafe, I have gotten MRIs on patients with St. Jude valves without a problem. If the indication for the MRI is to look at the valve itself, the valve will likely cause artifact that makes it impossible to evaluate the valve itself.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.