title: Neonatal life support during magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: Magnetic resonance techniques are required frequently for the assessment of the brain of ill neonates. In the present study, the effects of a 1.5 T MR scanner on devices for life support were assessed. A ventilator (Dräger Babylog 2000) was tested in the 1.5 T magnet, using a neonatal ventilation tester and 1.5-5 m tubes. In a special MR incubator, temperature and humidity were measured at 1-min intervals. Infusion was tested with the pump outside the magnet room: infusion rates and time to alarm were tested with 7-m tubes. The ventilator performed normally at a magnetic field line of 2 mT, although the alarms failed. The incubator created a temperature of 35.9 degrees C and humidity of 40.7%, which was acceptable for examinations of 45 min. The alarm limits of the infusion pump placed outside the magnet at 7 m were within company limits. The study indicates that magnetic resonance examinations can be performed safely in ill preterm neonates who require life-support devices.
authors.affiliation: Wilhelmina Children's Hospital/University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Neonatology, The Netherlands. F.Groenendaal@wkz.azu.nl
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Groenendaal
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leusink
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nijenhuis
authors.forename: M J H
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Janssen
mesh_terms: D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007186:Incubators, Infant / Q000009:adverse effects; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007260:Infusion Pumps / Q000009:adverse effects; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D008021:Life Support Systems; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008280:Magnetics / Q000009:adverse effects; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D012449:Safety