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BackgroundOver 140 million iPads® have been sold worldwide. The iPad2®, with magnets embedded in its frame and Smart Cover and 3G cellular data capability, can potentially cause electromagnetic interference in implantable cardioverter defibrillators. This can lead to potentially life‐threatening situations in patients. The goal of this study was to determine whether the iPad2® can cause electromagnetic interference in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators.Methods and ResultsTwenty‐seven patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators were studied. The iPad2® was held at reading distance and placed directly over the device with cellular data capability activated and deactivated. The manufacturers/models of devices and the patients' body mass index were noted. The presence of electromagnetic interference was detected by using a programmer supplied by each manufacturer. Magnet mode with suspension of anti‐tachycardia therapy was triggered in 9 (33%) patients. All occurred when the iPad2® was placed directly over the device. The cellular data status did not cause interference and no noise or oversensing was noted. There was no significant difference between the mean body mass index of the groups with or without interference.ConclusionsThe iPad2® can trigger magnet mode in implantable cardioverter defibrillators when laid directly over the device. This is potentially dangerous if patients should develop life‐threatening arrhythmias at the same time. As new electronic products that use magnets are produced, the potential risk to patients with implantable defibrillators needs to be addressed.

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Introduction: Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte disorder observed in heart failure (HF) patients making it difficult to treat with diruetics. Additionally, HF remains one of the costliest diagnoses in the United States with an estimated cost of around $31 billion for Medicare recipients. Finding an effective and inexpensive treatment becomes imperative to offset these staggering rates. Objective:The objective of this pilot study was to determine the safety of using acetazolamide in healthy individuals and to confirm that its properties would be that of an aquaretic rather than a diuretic. Methods: Baseline serum samples for electrolyte levels and kidney function were obtained. Subjects were then administered 250mg of acetazolamide orally every day for 5 days. On the final day of medication administration, each subject once again repeated the same laboratory tests.Results: Twelve healthy subjects participated. No significant change in urine sodium, urine osmolality, and serum sodium was observed at the completion of the study period.Conclusions: Acetazolamide has been classified as a diuretic, but our study indicates that it may actually act more like an aquaretic. We showed a mild trended increase yet no significant change in serum sodium levels in healthy individuals after five days. Hence, future studies in hypervolemic hyponatremic HF patients may elucidate this medications ability to improve the sodium levels, fluid status and mortality rates cost effectively in this population.