title: Can induced hypothermia be assured during brain MRI in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy?
abstract: Until now, brain MRIs in asphyxiated neonates who are receiving therapeutic hypothermia have been performed after treatment is complete. However, there is increasing interest in utilizing early brain MRI while hypothermia is still being provided to rapidly understand the degree of brain injury and possibly refine neuroprotective strategies. This study was designed to assess whether therapeutic hypothermia can be maintained while performing a brain MRI. Twenty MRI scans were obtained in 12 asphyxiated neonates while they were treated with hypothermia. The median difference between esophageal temperature on NICU departure and return was 0.1°C (range: -0.8 to 0.8°C). We found that therapeutic hypothermia can be safely and reproducibly maintained during a brain MRI. Hypothermia treatment should not prevent obtaining an early brain MRI if clinically indicated.
authors.affiliation: Division of Newborn Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, USA. Pia.Wintermark@bluemail.ch
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wintermark
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Labrecque
authors.forename: Simon K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Warfield
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: DeHart
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome