Practical limitations of acute stroke MRI due to patient-related problems.
Patient-related factors may make MRI impractical in an emergency setting. The authors prospectively assessed the limitations on obtaining MRI in 141 consecutive acute stroke patients. MRI was not feasible in 28 (19.9%) patients owing to patient-related issues. Apart from MR contraindications (n = 14; 9.9%), the main factors precluding MRI were a diminished level of consciousness, vomiting, agitation, and hemodynamic compromise. In the subgroup of patients ineligible for MRI because of medical reasons (n = 11), intracerebral hemorrhage was frequent (n = 9; 73%).
Singer
Oliver C
OC
Department of Neurology, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Sitzer
Matthias
M
du Mesnil de Rochemont
Richard
R
Neumann-Haefelin
Tobias
T
D000208:Acute Disease; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004630:Emergencies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010092:Oximetry; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000209:etiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology