Physiological stability of preterm infants during magnetic resonance imaging.
OBJECTIVE
This study looked for evidence of physiological disturbance in preterm infants undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


METHODS
Intensive care was continued, as appropriate, throughout scanning in each infant. The heart rate, oxygen saturation (SaO2), temperature and mean arterial blood pressure (BP) was monitored during MRI in preterm infants, median gestational age at birth 27 (range 23-32) weeks and median postnatal age at initial MRI, 3 days (range 1-42). The acoustic noise level during imaging was also measured.


RESULTS
2087 min of data were obtained from 39 examinations in 23 infants. The median heart rate was 159 and no bradycardia < 100 or tachycardia > 200 bpm occurred. Although 42 episodes of desaturation < 90% were detected only three were < 80, and these occurred in one infant due to endotracheal tube blockage. The median axillary temperature was 36.9 degrees C (range 35.7-37.8) and median BP (n = 6) was 37 mmHg (24-48). The ambient noise level in the MR system during scanning was 67-72 dBA.


CONCLUSIONS
In preterm infants who required intensive care during scanning, MRI could be performed without major physiological instability.
Section of Paediatrics, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
M
M
Battin
E F
EF
Maalouf
S
S
Counsell
A
A
Herlihy
A
A
Hall
D
D
Azzopardi
A D
AD
Edwards
D001794:Blood Pressure; D001831:Body Temperature; D005865:Gestational Age; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009622:Noise; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood
D010100:Oxygen