Preliminary report: changes in vital signs of term newborns during MR.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of the MR environment on vital signs of term neonates.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed physiological monitoring data obtained from seven term infants (20 to 22 days old) undergoing a clinically indicated MR examination. They were monitored for heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation while sedated and physically quiet. Six control infants were monitored while sedated and resting in the magnet.


RESULTS
All of the test infants exhibited substantial changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and/or oxygen saturation during the MR examination. No such changes were observed in the control infants.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary results suggest that undergoing an MR examination may alter the vital signs of term newborn infants.
Philbin
M K
MK
Department of Target Populations, University of Texas-Houston School of Nursing 77030, USA.
Taber
K H
KH
Hayman
L A
LA
D001139:Arnold-Chiari Malformation / Q000175:diagnosis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis; D003616:Dandy-Walker Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values
D010100:Oxygen