mechanical valves and MRI/MRA

[thecman321]

Can someone who had OHS and a mechanical valve have an MRI???
Isnt there metal in a St. Jude valve?
Don't they use wires to put the rib cage back together??

someone please clear up my confusion

Thanks

 

[Rich]

I can only answer for a St. Jude's mechanical though others are probably similar.
A St. Jude mechanical is made out of carbon not metal.
As for the wires they are made of a non-magnetic metal.
You can clear these questions up by (1)Contact your surgeon and (2) Contact St. Jude.
With my St. Jude mechanical I was assured by both that it was no problem.
Rich

 

[terryj]

My husband has an ATS mechanical aortic valve and his card says MRI compatible.

 

[Johnny Stephens]

I have 2 St. Jude mechanicals, which are made out of pyrolitic carbon. I had an MRI 3 weeks ago, and had no issues whatever. Their site states their mechanicals are MRI compatible, and the MRI staff at the hospital here were very familiar with them.

 

[Bryan B]

I don't have a mechanical nor do I have wires anymore......but I did have a MRI when I still had my wires and there were no problems.

 

[bvdr]

My St. Jude valve ID card clearly states "MRI COMPATIBLE".
I don't have sternal wires since I had a heartport procedure but I do have an awful lot of wire wrapped around the rib that was wired back in after the procedure. (I never did get the whole story about what happened there) I was also told that the wires in my chest wouldn't cause a problem if I ever required another MRI.

Are you needing some testing done?

 

[SHerrin Hutt]

I have both MRI & MRA and there was no problem. But before the MRI after surgery the hops. called the number on the St. jude valve card to make sure it was ok to do it.

 

[Blanche]

My husband received his St. Jude's valve in 1990. In 2000 and 2001 he had several strokes. Since then he has had 8 MRIs, the most recent one last month. No problems whatever on any of them.
Blanche