FDA - Transdermal Patches - MRI Burning Risk (Podcast)

A quick re-reminder that not all transdermal patches come with labelling warning patients about the burning risk while undergoing an MRI exam. Listen to this FDA Podcast, Risk of Burns during MRI Scans from Transdermal Drug Patches with Metallic Backings, or read the transcript "Risk of Burns during MRI Scans from Transdermal Drug Patches with Metallic Backings." 

Related Posts: FDA Warns - Avoid Burning - MRI and Drug Patch Interaction Duck - It Is A Sandbag - Flying In The MRI Room Are You Safe In An MRI Machine? 

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Medical Devices Infected By The Conficker PC Worm

Be very afraid. Hospital and medical devices have been found to be infected by a computer worm (kind of like a virus), reports this Mercury News article, Conficker worm hits hospital devices, "A computer worm that has alarmed security experts around the world has crawled into hundreds of medical devices at dozens of hospitals in the United States and other countries, according to technologists monitoring the threat." What I find so disturbing in the article is, "the working group has seen thousands of other machines located in hospitals reach out to the Conficker mastermind by contacting another computer on the Internet for instructions." The potential danger could be leaking of your health information, or the medical devices could be recruited as robots in an attack on other computer systems. Isn't technology grand!? 

Related Posts: Read Or Download The GAO Report - The FDA And High Risk Medical Devices (pdf) 2009 - Top 10 Trends For The Medical Equipment Market 

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Duck - It Is A Sandbag - Flying In The MRI Room

Duck! Watch out for that flying sandbag in the MRI room. It turns out some sandbags contain metal, and they can go flying near an MRI maching, reports this FDA Medical Device Safety report, "Danger: "Sandbag" in the MRI Room." According to the article, "a patient underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) while she had a sandbag on her groin to help facilitate hemostasis after a procedure that involved femoral artery puncture. The staff assumed that the bag contained only sand. As the study began, the sandbag was pulled into the MRI coil, damaging the system. Fortunately, the patient wasn’t injured, according to the report." Bottomline, the unlabeled sandbag was found to contain ferromagnetic iron shavings and pellets. This sandbag, originally purchased for use in the hospital’s physical therapy department, shouldn’t have been brought into the MRI room. Additional MRI Safety Resources:

1. Kanal E, Barkovich AJ, Bell C, et al. ACR guidance document for safe MR practices: 2007. AJR AM J Roentgenol. 2007;188(6): 1447-1474
2. Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff: Establishing Safety and Compatibility of Passive Implants in the Magnetic Resonance (MR) Environment. August 21, 2008

Related Posts: FDA Warns - Avoid Burning - MRI and Drug Patch Interaction Are You Safe In An MRI Machine? 

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FDA Warns - Avoid Burning - MRI and Drug Patch Interaction

Updated November 22, 2022

The original links broke.

You can still read about the same topic here:

• FDA advisory: Transdermal drug patches with metallic backings may cause burns during MRI - Healio
• What Patients Should Know Before Having an MRI Exam - FDA.gov

---  the original post follows below  ---

If you wear drug patches, watch out! You don't want to get burned. If you wear them into an MRI machine, the patch could burn you, warns the FDA in their alert, FDA Warns About Risk of Wearing Medicated Patches During MRIs.

FDA recommends that patients who use medicated patches (including nicotine patches) do the following:

• Tell the doctor referring you for an MRI scan that you are using a patch and why you are using it (such as, for pain, smoking cessation, hormones)
• Ask your doctor for guidance about removing and disposing of the patch before having an MRI scan and replacing it after the procedure.
• Tell the MRI facility that you are using a patch. You should do this when making your appointment and during the health history questions you are asked when you arrive for your appointment.

Additional Info by the FDA & others: FDA Public Health Advisory Risk of Burns during MRI Scans from Transdermal Drug Patches with Metallic Backings Transdermal Drug Patches with Metallic Backings Guidelines for Screening Patients For MR Procedures and Individuals for the MR Environment, Institute for Magnetic Resonance Safety, Education, and Research, www.imrser.org, 2009 

Related Posts: Are You Safe In An MRI Machine? 

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Are You Safe In An MRI Machine?

The statistics make me nervous. Your personal safety might be at risk, reports this excellent Health Care Blog post, The MRI Safety Gap. If you're headed for an MRI, you'll want to bone-up on the safety risks. It seems that more accidents and harm are happening in the MRI suite. The blog post tells the full story of flying missiles, getting burned, and more. If you're one of approximately 30 million folks (per year) getting an MRI, read the post.

For more detailed information:
JCAHO Sentinel Event Alert: Preventing accidents and injuries in the MRI suite

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