Cell phones

I heard a cardiologist tell a patient once, with the new technology, cell phone and microwave no longer affected pacer signals. He said the frequency was different now as opposed to a few years ago and this was no longer an issue. Most hospitals now allow cell phones to be used inside their facility.

I don't claim to be an expert, just repeating what I heard. Hope this helps.

we took the signs down prohibiting cell phones when it was learned that they no longer affected equipment, then put them back up when cell phones became a nuisance (people talking loud in the halls, phone ringing, etc.). I would contact the manufacturer if I really wanted to know.

We allow cell phones and i don't recall any problems concernings them (as regards to the pateient's health).
The cell phones actually were a relief to our work, because this way the number of calls from the exterior diminuished drastically. The relatives and friends find how they're feeling on first hand. There are some cases we have to tell the patients to reduce the volume of the sound.
I remember one patient that had her phone alarm clock ringing every 3 a.m., because she didn't knew how to disable that option! It had been doing that for the last 4 months!

I agree, patient should contact pacemaker manufacturer for the "official" recommendation and proceed from there.

That said, we'll be doing a new pacer implant tomorrow at work, and I'll try to remember to ask the rep about their company policy. Mind you, this is one of four reps that we work with, for four different vendors, but at least he should be able to give me the industry standard recommendations.

Best ----- D

We still don't allow cell phones in our monitored units. Signs posted everywhere. It's our policy, but the doctors tell the patients to go ahead and use them anyway, making the nursing staff look like idiots for enforcing policy.

Here are the Guidant rep's comments re: cell phones and permanent pacemakers (and ICDs):

Basically, keep the phone away from direct contact with the skin just over the implanted unit. This means don't carry the phone in the left chest shirt pocket if the pacemaker is implanted on the left side.
Use a hands-free set = best option.
If you can't use/don't have a hands-free set, use the phone on the opposite side from where the pacemaker is.
Cordless phones in the home are not a problem.
Microwaves are not a problem for most of the new pacemakers, however they might post an interference problem for an old, unipolar unit. Most units today are bi-polar.
If the phone happens to be too near the pacemaker, it may cause electrical interference which may halt the pacemaker from functioning. When the phone is moved away, however, the pacemaker will resume its normal functioning, i.e., it is not permanently damaged by the (hopefully) brief contact.

Hope this helps. Again, any clarifications should be done by the pacemaker vendor of the unit in question. -- D