Sedation, anesthesia, and physiologic monitoring during MR imaging: evaluation of procedures and equipment.

The authors developed safe standard sedation and general anesthesia procedures for adults and children, including adequate physiologic monitoring, during magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Six-year results are reported from one institution; 75% of the 600 patients per year who require sedation or anesthesia are children who require sedation only. Testing was done to determine MR compatibility of various types of equipment essential for monitoring and supporting sedated or anesthetized patients in 1.0- and 1.5-T MR imagers. Use of sedation procedures that include oral chloral hydrate after sleep deprivation resulted in a failure rate of 3.8% in sedating outpatient children. Every physiologic parameter that can be monitored under normal circumstances in the critical care unit or operating room can be monitored during MR imaging. Our experience indicates that with careful consideration of the unique MR environment and with rigorous testing of monitoring equipment, MR imaging can be performed safely in sedated or anesthetized patients.