Transforming a pre-existing MRI environment into an interventional cardiac MRI suite.

AIMS: To illustrate the practical and technical challenges along with the safety aspects when performing MRI-guided electrophysiological procedures in a pre-existing diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environment. METHODS AND RESULTS: A dedicated, well-trained multidisciplinary interventional cardiac MRI team (iCMR team), consisting of electrophysiologists, imaging cardiologists, radiologists, anaesthesiologists, MRI physicists, electrophysiological (EP) and MRI technicians, biomedical engineers, and medical instrumentation technologists is a prerequisite for a safe and feasible implementation of CMR-guided electrophysiological procedures (iCMR) in a pre-existing MRI environment. A formal dry run "mock-up" to address the entire spectrum of technical, logistic, and safety issues was performed before obtaining final approval of the Board of Directors. With this process we showed feasibility of our workflow, safety protocol, and bailout procedures during iCMR outside the conventional EP lab. The practical aspects of performing iCMR procedures in a pre-existing MRI environment were addressed and solidified. Finally, the influence on neighbouring MRI scanners was evaluated, showing no interference. CONCLUSION: Transforming a pre-existing diagnostic MRI environment into an iCMR suite is feasible and safe. However, performing iCMR procedures outside the conventional fluoroscopic lab, poses challenges with technical, practical, and safety aspects that need to be addressed by a dedicated multi-disciplinary iCMR team.