All MRI exams may not go exactly as I am going to describe here, but it should be similar enough to help anyone preparing for an MRI exam to understand the complete processes involved.
LOCATION:
Your MRI will be performed at a location which will be referred to as the MRI facility. This can be many different types of places, such as a hospital, a clinic, a doctor's office or a mobile van parked in a parking lot somewhere.
Most hospitals nowadays typically have an MRI unit installed within or near the imaging department. But it seems the tide has shifted lately and we are seeing more and more MRI scanners are being installed inside physician's private offices and also small clinics. Especially with the new OPEN style mri scanners that are more easily "sited" and can therefore be placed just about anywhere.
ARRIVAL:
Once you arrive at the location, you will need to report to admitting or reception. There will be a few very important forms that you need to fill out completely for your own safety. If you know these ahead of time, you can answer them rather quickly. Please allow at least 15 minutes to fill out these forms because they are extremely important for your safety and the staff's safety.
FORMS:
You will most likely need to fill out a patient questionnaire about the symptoms you are experiencing as it pertains to the MRI test that was ordered by your physician. The MRI technologists do not get the detailed information from your Dr. usually, so please list any and all symptoms, surgeries, injuries etc. that you can to help in the scanning procedure.
The next form REQUIRED to fill out is an MRI Screening Form. You will not be permitted into an MRI room without one of these forms completed and checked by the MRI technologist. Since MRI scanners are very large and strong MAGNETS, there are many items not allowed in the exam room, some of which include PACEMAKERS, ANEURYSM CLIPS, INSULIN PUMPS, CARDIAC STENTS, & some HEART VALVES.
ITEMS NOT ALLOWED IN MRI:
Jewelry, watches, coins, keys, and credit cards are incompatible with the magnetic resonance imaging procedure. You will need to leave these items at home or ask the technologist if you may leave them in a locker provided in a dressing room at the MRI facility.
There are many different reasons why there are not compatible, such as metallic attraction, projectile objects injuring someone or even just the possibility of the prescense of some items can distort the images.
Here is a picture of a metal belt buckle being attracted by the magnetic field of the imager.
There is clearly a large force pulling the belt buckle into the magnetic field. Alternatively these objects can inhibit radio frequency waves from getting into the body and thus produce distorted images. Certain articles of clothing, such as metal zippers, rivets, wires, and belt buckles, are incompatible with the imaging procedure for the same reasons. You will need to leave these items of clothing in the lockers and change into an imaging gown which contains no metal. The MRI Center also has nursing, scan, control, computer, and reading rooms. You will only see the nursing area if you require special nursing assistance, for example if you have an intravenous line for medication. The scan room is where the imager is located and is where you will be for your exam. The technologists operate the imager from the control room. The computer room is where the imaging hardware and computer are located. The last room is called the reading room. This room consists of large light boxes on which a radiologist will read your images.
In addition to the receptionist who greeted you when you arrived, there are many individuals working as a team to make your MRI exam happen. A MRI nurse will take care of your nursing needs which might include administration of any medications or contrast agents that you may need.
A MRI technologist will interact with you during your scan. The technologist will take you in and out of the scanner as well as operate the scanner.
A radiologist will prescribe which imaging sequences are to be used to record the magnetic resonance images, and will read or interpret the images. Please allow them 24 hours to return the imaging results to your ordering physician. The staff at the site are not going to be able to tell you anything about the results, so please don't ask them. It puts them all in a lawsuit situation and unless there is a life threatening "find" on the images, you will be let go from the MRI area and are free to go home and resume all functions as normal.
There are no side effects of MRI other than during the exam it is extremely LOUD and you will need some sort of hearing protection that will be provided by the site. Many sites now have music systems installed so you can listen to CDs or Tapes or the Radio. Please check with your facility prior to your exam to clarify if they offer music and if you can bring your own cds.
Many other individuals work behind the scenes to make the center functions properly. You will most likely not meet these individuals, but they include the custodial staff, service engineers, and scientists, all of whom keep the imager clean and functioning properly.
I hope this has been helpful to anyone planning on having an MRI and also to many of you who have already had one but didn't really understand the process. Next article will be on safety issues solely since it is such an important issue in MRI. See you then.
Jennifer Staley, RT.R.CT.MR.
MRI Application Specialist
15 Clinical Years Experience
www.Team-Hockey.com
www.JenniferStaley.com
No comments:
Post a Comment