Respiratory monitoring during MR imaging. The clinical value of a new fibre-optical monitor.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the clinical utility of a fibre-optical monitor for respiratory monitoring in patients undergoing MR imaging without general anaesthesia.


METHODS
One hundred consecutive patients were included at each of 3 MR units (300 patients in total). The technicians estimated the value of monitoring the respiratory rate on a 5-graded scale. Conditions that might complicate the MR examination were noted.


RESULTS
The respiratory monitor was well tolerated by 99% of the patients. It was rated as valuable or very valuable in one-third of the total group, but in slightly more than two-thirds of the group of patients with some condition that might have complicated the MR examination. The estimated value of respiratory rate monitoring did not correlate to the age or sex of the patients, the type of examination, or to whether contrast medium was used or not, but it was significantly more often considered valuable in patients placed in the head-first position than in those placed in feet-first.


CONCLUSIONS
Respiratory rate monitoring during MR imaging seems to be valuable in many patients, particularly if some condition that might complicate the MR examination is present.
Larsson
C
C
Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.
Davidsson
L
L
Lundin
P
P
Gustafsson
G
G
Vegfors
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012119:Respiration; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity