Care New England Cardiovascular Care is now offering patients the first implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) system approved by the FDA for use with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The first implant of this type of device in Rhode Island was performed recently at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket.
 
Many patients rely on ICDs, or pacemaker type devices placed under the skin, to detect irregular heartbeats and deliver life-saving therapy to restore a normal heartbeat. However, until now, patients with ICDs had an important restriction: they could not undergo an MRI. The metal used in the ICD could not safely be subjected to the powerful MRI magnet.  This restriction often poses a clinical challenge as data has shown that, within four years of receipt of an ICD more than one-third of patients with ICDs are likely to need an MRI, from problems that range from cancer to back pain.
 
“Patients with ICDs are often older adults with other serious medical conditions that require an MRI for diagnosis,” said Bruce Koplan, MD, MPH, director of Cardiac Arrhythmia Services for Care New England and a member of the Brigham and Women's Cardiovascular Associates at Care New England, who performed the procedure. “We’re grateful to have this new technology that helps treat cardiac arrest and still enables patients to access MRIs.”
 
Care New England cardiovascular services are made possible through a clinical affiliation with Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) in Boston. This program, staffed by Brigham and Women’s Cardiovascular Associates at Care New England, provides convenient locations for its patients at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket; Women & Infants’ 90 Plain Street facility in Providence and Kent Hospital in Warwick, while offering treatment for all but the most complex cardiac diagnoses locally, including coronary angioplasty at Kent.


About Care New England

Care New England, located in Rhode Island, was founded in 1996 by Butler Hospital, Kent Hospital and Women & Infants Hospital. Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island joined the system as a hospital partner in 2013. Care New England is an integrated health care system that offers a continuum of quality care. The system includes primary care and specialty physicians; three teaching hospitals affiliated with The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Butler, Memorial and Women & Infants; a community hospital, Kent; a visiting nurse and home care agency, the VNA of Care New England; and Care New England Wellness Center. For more information, visit carenewengland.org.

About Care New England Cardiovascular Care

The expansion of cardiovascular services at Care New England comes after a clinical affiliation with Brigham and Women’s Hospital established a comprehensive program at Kent Hospital. Since then, it has grown to include many additional services including advanced cardiovascular imaging modalities such as cardiac CT, the advanced valvular heart disease service, and the advanced heart failure service with transplant consultation. These services are provided by board certified cardiologists and a team of Care New England nurses and clinical support staff. For a full listing of all cardiac services or more information on Care New England cardiovascular care, please visit www.carenewengland.org/cardiology.