Protecting the health of the elderly, MRI can help - Examination process

Author: Wang Xuan, deputy chief physician, Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Reviewer: Feng Feng, Chief Physician, Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an advanced medical imaging technology that can help diagnose and monitor a variety of common diseases and protect the health of the elderly. Understanding the necessity, precautions and process of the examination will help the elderly and their families cooperate with doctors to better complete the examination. Today, the "Xieying Puhui" science popularization team of the Department of Radiology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital (the original plan of Xiehexing) will take you to understand the things about MRI examinations for the elderly, so that the elderly can be worry-free and their families can feel at ease.

Our introduction is divided into three parts: the principle of magnetic resonance imaging, common situations in which the elderly need to undergo MRI examinations; preparations before MRI examinations for the elderly; and the specific process of MRI examinations for the elderly.

In the previous two articles, we briefly introduced the principles of MRI, common situations in which the elderly need MRI examinations, and the preparations for MRI examinations for the elderly. In this article, we will introduce the MRI examination process.

Figure 1 Staff members perform MRI scans and retrieve basic patient information (copyrighted images are not authorized for reproduction)

Here are some things to know about the MRI process.

1. Precautions before the examination: Before the scan, the medical staff will register and check the basic information, explain the examination steps and precautions, let the patient or family sign the informed consent form, and lead the elderly into the examination room. Before entering the room, the patient and the accompanying personnel need to remove all ferromagnetic metal objects on their bodies, especially coins and keys, and others include dentures, hearing aids, glasses, mobile phones, watches, belts, jewelry, hairpins, wigs, lighters, etc. Ferromagnetic objects may move in the magnetic field and cause injuries; they will also affect the uniformity of the magnetic field, form artifacts, and affect the imaging effect. With the current clinical application of high-field and ultra-high-field magnetic resonance imaging equipment, more attention should be paid to safety in this regard. Some examination rooms are equipped with safety doors to prevent metal objects from being brought in. If the safety door alarms, the cause of the alarm must be eliminated before entering the room. Wheelchairs, stretchers, beds, oxygen cylinders and some monitoring equipment cannot enter the magnetic resonance examination room. Before the examination, the patient needs to be moved to the examination bed by a transfer bed, and the magnetic resonance compatible equipment should be replaced according to the actual situation. Elderly patients can bring their own oxygen bags if they need oxygen inhalation.

2. Precautions during the examination: The examination time is generally long (may take 10 to 30 minutes), and the elderly need to lie on the bed and keep still to ensure a clear image. The machine often makes a lot of noise when working, and the examination room will provide earplugs or headphones to help reduce the impact of noise on the patient. For examinations of the abdomen and other parts, patients often need to hold their breath in accordance with the breathing instructions of medical staff during the examination. There is a thermal effect of the radio frequency field during magnetic resonance examinations, and the patient's body surface temperature may rise. It is normal to feel a little hot and there is no need to worry. The elderly may have difficulty in moving, and medical staff will assist them in getting on and off the examination bed, adjusting the scanning position, etc.

3. How to deal with discomfort during the examination: The elderly may feel uncomfortable in the narrow examination environment. They can relax themselves by taking deep breaths, closing their eyes and resting their minds. If it is unbearable, they can hold the alarm ball tightly with their hands to remind the medical staff to suspend the examination and let the medical staff enter the examination room for processing. The elderly are more likely to feel anxious and fearful. If safety permits, family members can accompany them into the examination room to relieve anxiety.

4. Precautions related to enhanced examination: Enhanced MRI has good safety and tolerance, and only a few patients will have local reactions. Allergic reactions caused by contrast agents usually occur within 20 minutes after injection. If the patient has pain at the injection site or any physical discomfort, please inform the medical staff in time. The medical staff on site will actively deal with it. Please understand and cooperate with the elderly and their families. For patients undergoing enhanced examination, they should be observed for 30 minutes after the scan to further exclude allergic reactions. If symptoms such as rash, itching, and difficulty breathing occur during the observation period, the medical staff on site should be informed immediately. When removing the indwelling needle, press the puncture site for 5 minutes until there is no bleeding. Within 24 hours after returning home after the examination, you should generally drink more water (the average amount of water per hour should not be less than 100 ml) to accelerate the discharge of the contrast agent. If the patient is fasting or abstaining from water, intravenous rehydration needs to be performed according to the doctor's advice. If you feel unwell after leaving the hospital, you should seek medical treatment nearby as soon as possible.

Figure 2 Staff members perform magnetic resonance imaging to locate the lumbar spine (copyrighted images are not authorized for reproduction)

MRI is a safe and non-invasive examination method that can provide important information for the diagnosis of diseases in the elderly, especially in cases where high-resolution soft tissue imaging is required. I hope that this series of articles can help the elderly and their families better understand and prepare for MRI examinations, so as to obtain the best health protection.