Having an MRI scan under oral sedation

Parent information

This leaflet has been created to explain your child’s forthcoming MRI scan. If you have any questions that the leaflet does not answer or would like further explanation please ask a member of staff.

What is an MRI scan?

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a method of building up a detailed picture of your body and its organs. Unlike CT (computerised tomography) it does not use X-ray radiation but instead magnetic fields are used to build up the pictures.

Is it safe?

There are no known risks or side effects associated with MRI. Because of the magnets involved, MRI must not be performed on people with certain metal implants in their bodies such as pacemakers, inner ear implants, surgical clips within the head and some artificial metallic heart valves. If your child has ever had metal fragments in their eyes due to an injury it will be necessary for them to have an X-ray of their eyes to ensure that no fragments still remain.

During the scan the magnets make a wide range of loud noises such as banging, buzzing and rumbling. This can be disturbing so your child will be provided with ear plugs to reduce this noise.

How long will the MRI scan take?

It usually takes around 30 minutes to scan one part of the body. It will obviously take a little longer to scan more than one part. The length of the scan also varies depending upon the problem that your child’s doctor is trying to investigate. It is important to remember that if the scan takes a little longer it does not necessarily mean that there is something wrong.

Why sedate and what is oral sedation?

Your child will need to be sedated if they are unable to understand or are too frightened to lie still for up to one hour. This is important to enable clear and precise images to be obtained by the MRI scanner.

The oral sedation we use is called Chloral Hydrate and has to be given up to one hour prior to the scan. It comes in both oral liquid and suppository form. The nurses will discuss with you on the day of your child’s admission the best form of administration of this drug.

Chloral Hydrate is given as a sedative and will normally cause your child to drift off into a ‘ deep sleep’. With any medication there can be adverse reactions and these can include agitation/delirium, skin reactions and confusion. These are rare but can occur on occasions. If you have any concerns please speak to the nurse caring for you on the day.

It is also recommended that you try to sleep deprive your child to allow for the oral sedation to be more effective. Therefore try to keep your child awake two hours longer the night before the scan and wake them up two hours earlier than normal and do not let them have a nap on the way to the hospital.

Can your child eat and drink?

For the safety of your child, it is essential that they are starved in preparation for the sedation. They will be able to have their last food and milk (cows and formula) six hours before the sedation medication is given to your child. Your child can continue to drink water or diluted squash until two hours before the sedation medication is given. For breast fed babies, the last feed will need to be four hours before the sedation medication is given to your child. Please call the ward the day before the scan to confirm starving times with the staff.

When will my child be able to go home?

After your child’s scan, they will need to eat, drink and pass urine before going home. They may still be wobbly on their feet, this will resolve by itself over the course of the day. Children usually go home one-two hours after completion of the scan but this will completely depend on how quickly your child will recover.

The nurses will be responsible for allowing your child to be discharged home, under the non-medical discharge of patients policy. You will not routinely see the Doctor prior to discharge.

When will I know the results of the scan?

It takes a long time to look at all the pictures that their scan produces and so the report will not be available straight away, please allow 2-4 weeks for the scan to be reported and an appointment made. You will be sent an appointment to be seen in the outpatient department to discuss the findings of their scan and any further treatment that might be necessary.