Tips on how to prepare a patient for an MRI examination?

If you happen to are a nurse working in an intensive care unit, you might have probably sent patients for diagnostic imaging. Some of the common radiological tests is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a non-invasive test that produces three-dimensional images of internal organs, bones and soft tissues to detect or diagnose disease and monitor treatment. These scanning systems use superconducting magnets and radio frequency signals to create cross-sectional images of the body, that are then converted into computer-generated graphics (Lippincott Advisor, 2022). The brain, spinal cord, nerves, muscles, ligaments, and tendons are seen in greater detail on MRI than with standard X-rays and computed tomography (CT) (National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, n.d.). MRI produces strong magnetic fields that stretch beyond the machine and exert enormous forces on objects manufactured from iron, some steel, and other magnetizable objects (National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, n.d.), so that they require very special precautions. What’s the preparation of a patient for magnetic resonance imaging?

Tips on how to prepare a patient for an MRI examination?

• The patient needs to be assessed for contraindications equivalent to:
  • Implanted devices (especially those containing iron) equivalent to pacemakers, vagal nerve stimulators, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, loop recorders, insulin pumps, cochlear implants, deep brain stimulators, and capsule endoscopy
  • Internal metal equivalent to bullets, shrapnel, surgical clamps, pins, screws, metal sutures and wire mesh
• Check for surgically implanted joints, valves, pumps, pacemakers and pacemakers containing metal. Some implants can’t be scanned safely.
• If the patient requires life support, equivalent to a mechanical ventilator, call the MRI staff prior to the examination to be certain that all needed equipment is about up outside the room. Extension tubing can be needed to soundly place ventilators and IV pumps outside the MRI area.

• Confirm that informed consent has been signed and placed within the patient’s medical record.
• Check with the MRI staff to be sure the scanner can adjust to the patient’s size and weight.
• Watch out for all allergies.
• Patients affected by claustrophobia may feel anxious and will not tolerate long scanning times in a closed tube system.
  • Help the patient using visualization techniques.
  • Administer sedative as directed.
  • Play music to calm the patient.
  • The open MRI machine doesn’t completely surround the patient; this may occasionally be an option.
• Remove metal objects from the patient’s body, equivalent to transdermal drug patches containing aluminum or other metals, hearing aids, dentures, jewelry, body piercings, glasses, and hair clips.
  • Warn the patient that specific eye makeup and everlasting eyeliners containing metal fragments may cause discomfort throughout the MRI examination.
• If the patient receives a contrast agent (normally containing gadolinium), intravenous administration of the contrast agent needs to be initiated as directed before the procedure.

• MRI doesn’t cause pain.
• X-rays and ionizing radiation aren’t utilized in MRI.
• Fasting will not be required before an MRI scan unless the abdomen or pelvis is being examined.
• Through the procedure, the patient should remain as still as possible.
• Warn the patient that the scanner will make loud noises equivalent to clicking and banging (as much as 120 decibels). To cut back noise, please purchase earplugs or music headsets.
• The patient may feel nerve stimulation from the rapidly switching magnetic fields within the MRI image.
• Tell the patient that there’ll all the time be communication with the MRI technologist throughout the examination and that there can be a button to notify the technologist in the event that they require immediate intervention.
• The scan may take from 30 to 90 minutes.
• MRIs are costlier than X-rays or CT scans.

Finally, do not forget that patients with severe renal impairment could also be vulnerable to a rare condition called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis when using certain gadolinium-containing contrast agents. Dialysis patients should only receive gadolinium when needed, and dialysis needs to be performed as soon as possible after the test to remove the contrast from the body. Moreover, MRI examinations needs to be avoided while pregnant, especially in the primary trimester.

Lippincott Advisor (2022, July 8). Magnetic resonance imaging. Lippincott’s solutions. https://advisor.lww.com/lna/document.do?did=1147873

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. (n.d.). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health.
https://www.nibib.nih.gov/science-education/science-topics/magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri