The MRI scanner causes no pain. If your child is awake during the test, he or she may feel some discomfort or pressure when the needle is inserted. If awake, your child may become uncomfortable from lying still. Allow your child to ask questions and answer these questions truthfully.
Your child may feel nervous or afraid. He or she may even cry. Use play when telling your child about the test, if appropriate. With older children, it may help to read books or show pictures of what happens during the test. See that your child does not eat or drink for a certain number of hours before the test, if contrast dye will be used during the test.
Remove any metal objects your child may be wearing, such as jewelry, hair clips, or clothing with zippers. The test takes about 30 to 60 minutes. Some may take longer. You may be able to stay with your child in the MRI room.
Or you may be asked to wait in another area during the test. An MRI scan is done by a radiology technologist. A radiologist is on call in case of problems. This is a doctor trained to use MRI or other imaging methods to test or treat patients. Your child will need to lie still during the scan. Movement affects the quality of the results and can even require a repeat scan. Your child may be restrained or given medicine to relax sedative or sleep anesthesia. It is very rare for a child to have an allergic reaction to the contrast, but if a reaction does occur staff are well trained to manage any adverse events associated with contrast.
MRI scans have many pictures with a lot of detail, so they often take a long time for the radiologist medical imaging specialist to review and report on. The technologist performing the study will not be able to give you any information about the imaging findings at the time of the examination. Clerical staff cannot give out results over the telephone. If you have any questions about the results of your MRI scan, speak to your doctor.
My child is anxious about medical procedures and I am not sure they will be still enough for the scan. How can I help? To get some ideas of how to talk to your child about the scan before you come to hospital, see our fact sheet.
Seeing the videos may help them by knowing what to expect. You can also download our Okee in Medical Imaging app , which includes games and information especially designed to help children feel more comfortable about having medical imaging at the RCH.
In rare cases, MRI contrast can cause reactions in children. Less than 4 in children may feel unwell or develop a headache or become dizzy following contrast, however this usually settles quickly. Less than one child in might develop a rash, hives, or an irritated mouth or throat.
If this happens, your child might need to stay in the hospital a few hours longer and may need some extra medicine e. Extremely rarely, your child may have a serious and life-threatening reaction and will need to be admitted to hospital for treatment. These are allergic reactions that cannot be predicted unless a previous reaction has been experienced.
Staff can safely manage any side effects or reactions that may occur. Please let the MRI staff know if your child has had a reaction to MRI contrast in the past, or has a renal kidney or liver condition. MRI uses a powerful magnet and radio waves to create images.
What if I am unable to keep my appointment or need to cancel? There is a waiting list for MRI scans so if you are unable to keep the appointment please contact the MRI Department as soon as possible T 03 or 03 We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers. To donate, visit www. This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. Doctors can use an MRI exam to look at the squishy parts inside of you called your tissue.
Doctors then use the pictures from the MRI to figure out how to help you feel better. The person who will help you and make the MRI machine work is called the technologist. Before your MRI, make sure your technologist knows if you have been sick or have allergies. You should wear loose clothes, or your technologist will give you a gown to wear during the exam. You might need to have a dye called contrast put in your body. Contrast makes the pictures clearer so the radiologist can see better.
You can also try being a technologist yourself by giving a doll an MRI before your own exam. At UVA, we have a toy MRI machine that makes the same noises as a real machine, so you can see what will happen to you before it happens! This can be in a drink or medicine or with a needle.
The technologist might use straps to help position you, and these will be like your seatbelts for the exam.
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