Introduction: Nowadays, magnetic resonance imaging is one of the most important diagnostic methods. It is distinguished by its superior contrast of soft tissue and the lack of ionising radiation. Despite its usefulness, it can still be the source of many dangers for a patient. There are cases in which a person concerned cannot be subject of the examination procedure. Any implant which can be affected by magnetic or electric field, must not come close to the magnetic force field. We must never assume the object’s safety level if the latter is not determined or documented. There are a lot of potential dangers, for example: some of them originate from the static magnetic field, radiofrequent electromagnetic (RF) field and gradient magnetic field. Purpose: The purpose of our diploma work is to identify ways of suitability testing for implanted medical devices used by radiographers throughout MRI diagnostics in Slovenia. Methods: The theoretical part of our diploma work is based on the systematic examination of expert written articles published on the internet, foreign guidelines on MR safety and book sources on magnetic resonance diagnostic. For the needs of the empirical part of the diploma work, we made a questionnaire with the help of an online program called 1ka. The questions cover six different types of implants, field of treating an unknown implant, and the field of the department’s MR safety. The questionnaire was sent to teams working in the MR departments across Slovenia. The received data was then processed via program 1ka and Microsoft Excel Office. Results: 100% of radiographers who filled out the form stated that they have experience in examining patients with implanted orthopaedic implants and patients with implanted intravascular stents. 86% of radiographers had examined patients with implanted pacemakers in the past, 73% of radiographers had examined patients with intracranial aneurysm clips, 95% radiographers examined patients with implanted artificial heart valves, and 82% of radiographers had examined patients with implanted cochlear implants. 68% of them have experience with examining patients with implanted medical device of unknown origin (without official documentation). Follow-up questions were based on previous answers. Discussion and conclusion: Analysis has shown that the work of Slovenian radiographers throughout MRI diagnostics in Slovenia is comparable to the widely acknowledged foreign MRI Safety Guidelines. Their work corresponds to the guidelines in the field of implementation of measures reducing distortions caused by implants, in the field of assuring MRI safety of the patients with different implanted medical devices, in the field of dealing with implanted medical devices of unknown origin. We have also prepared a draft of Slovenian MRI Safety Guidelines based on analysis of the foreign guidelines and our questionnaire.
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