Classes of precautions:
(1) medical data relative to heart disease and implanted device
(2) exposure to magnetic fields at airport security
(3) travel overseas
The patient should carry the following medical data relative to heart disease and implanted device:
(1) brief medical history
(2) cardiologist contact information
(3) copy of a recent ECG with and without pacing
(4) description of the device, including manufacturer and troubleshooting hotline
Minimizing exposure to magnetic fields at airport security:
(1) Do not lean against or linger around a metal detector archway.
(2) Hand-held magnetic devices can be passed over a pacemaker but should not be held over the device for any period of time.
(3) For patients with an ICD, a hand search should be requested. If use of a hand-held magnetic device is required, then it should be passed over the ICD very briefly (1-2 seconds) and the interval between repeat sweeps should be >= 30 seconds.
Travel overseas:
(1) The patient should carry information about the device in several languages, preferrably ones spoken in the destination countries.
(2) The patient should carry a list of physicians in destination countries familiar with the device.
(3) The quality of telephone communications may limit the ability to transmit device data.
