Swimming Pools Causing Electromagnetic Interference on Cardiac Devices: A Case Series

Lisa M. Conte; Adam J. Kisling; Matthew Needleman

doi:10.7326/aimcc.2024.0072

Swimming Pools Causing Electromagnetic Interference on Cardiac Devices: A Case Series

Lisa M. Conte^*, Adam J. Kisling, Matthew Needleman

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Electromagnetic interference (EMI), also called radiofrequency interference, is unwanted electromagnetic signals from extracardiac sources that are detected by cardiac pacemakers or defibrillators, potentially affecting device therapies. After device implantation, patients are educated about the risks for EMI from sources like cell phones or laptops, but swimming pools often are not included in this discussion. We report 2 cases of EMI from swimming pools that resulted in inappropriate device therapies. Although no catastrophic events occurred in these cases, EMI has the potential to cause changes in device therapy that may lead to devastating clinical outcomes.

Original language	English
Article number	e240072
Journal	Annals of Internal Medicine Clinical Cases
Volume	3
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.7326/aimcc.2024.0072
State	Published - Jun 2024
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Arrhythmia
Atrial fibrillation
Cardiology and cardiovascular diseases
Cardiology fellows
Cardiovascular diseases
Case series
Electrophysiology
Heart block
Pacemakers
Shock
Swimming
Tachycardia
Ventricular fibrillation

Access to Document

10.7326/aimcc.2024.0072

Cite this

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title = "Swimming Pools Causing Electromagnetic Interference on Cardiac Devices: A Case Series",

abstract = "Electromagnetic interference (EMI), also called radiofrequency interference, is unwanted electromagnetic signals from extracardiac sources that are detected by cardiac pacemakers or defibrillators, potentially affecting device therapies. After device implantation, patients are educated about the risks for EMI from sources like cell phones or laptops, but swimming pools often are not included in this discussion. We report 2 cases of EMI from swimming pools that resulted in inappropriate device therapies. Although no catastrophic events occurred in these cases, EMI has the potential to cause changes in device therapy that may lead to devastating clinical outcomes.",

keywords = "Arrhythmia, Atrial fibrillation, Cardiology and cardiovascular diseases, Cardiology fellows, Cardiovascular diseases, Case series, Electrophysiology, Heart block, Pacemakers, Shock, Swimming, Tachycardia, Ventricular fibrillation",

author = "Conte, {Lisa M.} and Kisling, {Adam J.} and Matthew Needleman",

year = "2024",

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doi = "10.7326/aimcc.2024.0072",

language = "English",

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journal = "Annals of Internal Medicine Clinical Cases",

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N2 - Electromagnetic interference (EMI), also called radiofrequency interference, is unwanted electromagnetic signals from extracardiac sources that are detected by cardiac pacemakers or defibrillators, potentially affecting device therapies. After device implantation, patients are educated about the risks for EMI from sources like cell phones or laptops, but swimming pools often are not included in this discussion. We report 2 cases of EMI from swimming pools that resulted in inappropriate device therapies. Although no catastrophic events occurred in these cases, EMI has the potential to cause changes in device therapy that may lead to devastating clinical outcomes.

AB - Electromagnetic interference (EMI), also called radiofrequency interference, is unwanted electromagnetic signals from extracardiac sources that are detected by cardiac pacemakers or defibrillators, potentially affecting device therapies. After device implantation, patients are educated about the risks for EMI from sources like cell phones or laptops, but swimming pools often are not included in this discussion. We report 2 cases of EMI from swimming pools that resulted in inappropriate device therapies. Although no catastrophic events occurred in these cases, EMI has the potential to cause changes in device therapy that may lead to devastating clinical outcomes.

KW - Arrhythmia

KW - Atrial fibrillation

KW - Cardiology and cardiovascular diseases

KW - Cardiology fellows

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KW - Case series

KW - Electrophysiology

KW - Heart block

KW - Pacemakers

KW - Shock

KW - Swimming

KW - Tachycardia

KW - Ventricular fibrillation

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