Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

What to Expect

A MRI receptionist will call you two to three days in advance to confirm the appointment time and give you your child’s eating instructions and arrival time. If your child is being sedated for the MRI procedure, a radiology nurse will call a week before the scheduled MRI with specific eating and arrival instructions. Make sure your child follows all eating instructions.

For your child’s safety, bring a list of all your child’s medications and information about any surgical implants he or she may have. Your child should wear clothing without metal, such as clothing without zippers, buckles or snaps. We encourage children to bring their favorite DVD to watch or CD to listen to music.

On the day of your child’s MRI procedure, an anesthesiologist will discuss the sedation process with you if applicable.

The MRI technologist will perform a thorough MRI safety screening, consisting of a patient-provided form and use of a metal detector. You are welcome to accompany your child into the magnet room.

The MRI scanner contains a highly magnetic field. Anyone planning to enter the MRI scan room must first walk through a metal prescreening device. Before entering the prescreening area, we will ask you to remove any items containing metal, including:

• Belts
• Body piercings
• Cell phones
• Hair clips/pins
• Hard-sole shoes
• Jewelry
• Keys
• Pagers
• Pens
• Support braces
• Suspenders
• Tools
• Wired undergarments with metal clasps or hooks
• Wrist watches

Once your child is prepared for the MRI, he or she will be positioned on the MRI table by a pediatric-trained MRI technologist. The technologist will make sure your child is as comfortable as possible. The technologist will talk to your child before beginning each scan and ask him or her to remain very still during the scan to ensure high-quality images.

If your child is not being sedated for the procedure, you or another caregiver may be present for the entire MRI. Once the scanning begins, your child will be constantly monitored by the pediatric-trained MRI technologist. Your child may be instructed to hold his or her breath for some cardiac and abdominal imaging.

If your child requires sedation for the exam, he or she will need to be monitored by a radiology registered nurse until it is safe to leave the hospital. Your child may eat, drink and return to normal activities after the exam in complete.