An implanted device: what should I report and bring before an MRI?

An MRI uses, among other things, a powerful magnet. If you have metallic or electronic equipment inside your body, tell the imaging service at first contact and have the examination prescription available. This information needs to be known before the examination.

Having an implant does not let you decide yourself whether an MRI is possible or impossible. Some devices allow the examination; others require precautions or may rule it out. The team assesses whether an MRI is possible for the device and its circumstances.

Gather the written information you have about the device and ask the imaging service which documents it needs. If you were given an implant card, keep it with these documents. The presence of a card alone does not establish that the examination is possible.

Also gather the surgery or hospital report and any documents requested by the service. Ameli advises bringing these reports when they exist. They help document the implantation; do not replace written information with an approximate description.

If the card or report is missing, contact the team that performed the implantation to ask how to retrieve the information. Explain to the imaging service what is available and what still needs checking. Do not assume all the data are already in Mon espace santé.

Before travelling, ask which documents and checks are needed for the prescribed examination. An implant card or prescription alone does not confirm compatibility. Follow the imaging team’s instructions rather than a general rule found online.