Prepare the child for the MRI Likar.Info

Posted on November 23, 2018

The fact that this is the beginning of MRI examination, the child does not prove. And not to scare their child and to avoid children’s psychological trauma, parents will have a good try. How to prepare your child for an MRI Likar.info rasstaetsya.

Going for an MRI

Compared with many other diagnostic methods, MRI is one of the most powerful, yet safest procedures created in the history of modern medicine. In this type of diagnosis is not used ionizing radiation.

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If MRI is the first time student, it is more important to talk, rather to listen. Let the child talk about their fears, do not shame for it and do not push on the weak. Better show that you believe in the courage of the child, his safety and will be there to help.

Collecting the child for an MRI scan, you need to remember that the action of the apparatus based on the use of a magnet and radio waves, so all the trinkets, cars and other metal toys are better left at home. But a Teddy bear as support just what you need. Parents also need to take into account the fact that MRI does not like metal: mobile phones and tablets, watches and keys, Bank cards and travel tickets with magnetic stripes can also distort the image scanner. If you are going to accompany the child patient during the MRI, these and other items should be put away. However, the woman, who is expecting another child, should not be in the room performing this diagnostic procedure, and the more her passing.

Barrettes and hairpins are better off in advance

For a hike on the MRI choose a comfortable clothes to keep him comfortable and cozy. You also need to ensure that your children’s clothing without zippers, metal buttons, and buttons. The young lady on the day of visit to the clinic for better not a cunning braid hairstyles with Bobby pins and hairpins. If little patient wears glasses or a hearing aid, they too will be asked to remove. And don’t forget before the MRI to warn professionals about the child’s braces, they also can negatively affect image quality. In conventional treatment adhesive may also contain a small admixture of metal, but it is better to unstick it. But the little patient who has metal implants (e.g. pacemaker), MRI to not be.

The day of the test you can eat and drink as usual, except when the doctor asks you to refrain a little patient from taking food. This is required in three cases: MRI with contrast studies of the abdomen and pelvis. In this case, the examination should be on an empty stomach, but plain water can be drunk two hours before diagnosis.

On the way to MRT

On the way to the clinic, try to clearly explain to the child how it will be the scanning procedure, to configure it that will need some time not to move. This is best done in the form of a game: let your child perceives what is happening as an interesting adventure. And coming to the diagnostic center, guide him around: he studies the situation and a little used.

Let the child understand that you’ll be there throughout the procedure (in most centres parents do not forbid to sit near the scanner).

During MRI-examination the child had not happened to the panic and claustrophobia the fear of enclosed space enough to explain what an MRI is not a box, and a tunnel with two exits, open in front and back.

During the procedure, MRI

At first the child can touch the clicking and noise from the MRI scanner. If the child complains that the sounds scare him, you can always turn to an assistant for headphones. Note to parents: these sounds are associated with vibrations of the magnets inside the unit and do not damage children’s hearing.

And yet, the most difficult to persuade the child not to move and not to talk. An MRI can last from 15 minutes to an hour, and lay in the posture still for such a long time is torture even for adults. You can offer the school-age child a small competition: who moved and said the word, he lost. And if the procedure was delayed, start in a calm voice to talk about something pleasant, Recalling that the need to lie still.

Patients up to six years who are unable to sit quietly (not that there is some MRI place), previously administered sedatives or short-term General anesthesia. These points must be discussed with the doctor who ordered an MRI. In particular, if a baby has a fever or exacerbation of a chronic disease, most likely diagnostic procedure with anesthesia will be delayed. Also moved the common cold requires a minimum two-week recovery.

Usually with children anesthesia is used, which is fed through an inhalation mask. First, you should support the child and at the same time to hold it. However, at the stage when the child is asleep, most often relatives are asked to leave the nurse’s office.

If you have a special occasion

Special case when MRI is required to make a baby. Although doctors rarely prescribe the examination to one year (so as not to make your child the anesthesia), but sometimes not do without it.

By the way, in this case, a possible and natural option, with no sedative drugs and anesthesia: the child is carried out the diagnostic procedure while he sleeps.

To do this the day before he was put to sleep late and Wake early. Baby you can’t feed baby food for six hours before the procedure and a chest for three hours. Immediately before MRI the baby feed and after 10-15 minutes he usually falls asleep. All that is required from mom: wrap up in a blanket for reliability and not to forget to change a diaper.

If your child ordered an MRI with contrast, trouble can be added. In a vein in your arm injected with a small needle attached to a thin plastic tube. Through it at a certain stage of examination of the injected liquid contrast for a clearer image. It didn’t hurt, but most children are afraid of needles. You can promise the child a small reward after the release of Cabinet: ice cream or treasured purchase will be a great incentive to be patient. And Yes, contrast agents for MRI have been used for over 20 years, proven that their effect is safe for young patients.

After the procedure, MRI

After anesthesia examination and better hours to be with child, and not to go home.Many private clinics will allow you to pass in a separate chamber. The condition of the baby at this time will be monitored by qualified medical personnel.

Before you give any food (and this can be done in half an hour after the MRI), offer a first drink to make sure that the child is not sick.

After anesthesia or sedation, the child may be drowsy during the day. This is normal. Also may be a slight dizziness. Urgently address to the doctor is necessary only in case if the baby the whole time asleep, and you are unable to Wake him up. Normal possible increased irritability, tearfulness. Student better for the day to leave home, and not send in class, especially if the MRI is performed with contrast.

The child should be calm and to adjust to the procedure. But it is important to remember that the smaller the baby, the less mean to him. It is not necessary to explain to the preschooler what will happen, it is better to lose a similar survey with the toys. It’s enough to make cardboard tube this is part of the MRI machine.

Let the child himself will be the doctor who puts a doll or animal patient on the table and places it inside the pipe. After all, this part of the procedure often scares preschoolers. Another important point: the humming of the machine. If you repeatedly play it, the anxiety will be much less (Like buzzing the MRI? Right, oooo). The baby is also important more words non-verbal cues of the parents: the tone and speed of speech, facial expressions, gestures. A story about how to behave safely on the MRI, which is accompanied by gestures, issuing your excitement will scare even stronger than silence.

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