MRI Scan with Oral Sedation
Please Read Carefully – IMPORTANT Information
Prior to the MRI scan
1) Please complete the enclosed MRI safety questionnaire for
a) the child undergoing the scan
b) the adult who will accompany the child into the scanning room
Note: more than one person can come to the hospital with the child but only one adult will be allowed
in the scanning room and must be MRI safe, ie they must not answer Yes to any of the questions
2) If you answer Yes to any of the questions for the child or wish to discuss if the adult going into the
scanning room is MRI safe, please contact ---- on the following
telephone number ----
3) If your child is old enough to understand that they are attending for an MRI scan you may wish to visit
the following web page, which explains what will happen, in a child friendly way ------
4) If your child is unwell up to 3 days prior to the scan or on the day of the scan, please contact Dolphin
ward to discuss if it should go ahead. Please do this as soon as possible, so if the scan does need to be
re-arranged then the hospital can use the slot for another patient. This also applies if some other
emergency occurs and you cannot attend the scan.
5) Please ensure you read the instructions about Fasting.
6) Please ensure you are available for the whole day, as after the scan the child will need a period of time
for the sedation to wear off.
The day of the MRI scan
1)Please contact Dolphin children’s ward before ------to ensure that there is a bed available, on the
following telephone number ------
2) Fasting – Very IMPORTANT
Your child will need to be fasted appropriately in order to be given sedation.
If they are not fasted the sedation cannot be given, as it can cause serious breathing problems.
If they are not fasted the MRI scan will be cancelled.
If you have any questions about this please contact Dolphin ward.
Fasting guideline
Your child needs to be fasted appropriately for the time that the sedation is given which will be 1 hour
before the scan time
No food, cows milk or juice
No water
3) Please bring the following a) The MRI safety questionnaires
b) Pyjamas, nighty or clothes which are free of metal or sparkly material
4) Please ensure that the adult going into the scanner is free of metal when they accompany the child
Note you can bring these things with you but they cannot go into the scanning room
- no Coins
- no Belts containing metal
- no Watches
- no Metal hair accessories
- no Ear rings
- no Rings
- no Mobile phones
There are lockers available in the MRI department if needed
5) On arrival to Dolphin ward your child will be weighed and have a set of observations taken (temperature,
pulse rate etc).
They will then be examined by a doctor to make sure they are well enough to have the sedation given.
Sometimesthe child will need to change into a hospital gown.
The sedation will then be given to the child, usually this is given orally, however if the child will not take
it orally we will sometimes give the medication rectally.
The medication will be given 60 minutes prior to the time of the MRI scan.
Once your child has gone to sleep, they will go to the MRI scanner along with a nurse, a porter and the
adult who is to accompany the child into the scanning room.
On arrival in the MRI department, the MRI technician will then go through the MRI safety questionnaires.
The child will be place on the scanner and positioned correctly.
The adult will be given headphones to wear as the scanner is quite noisy.
The scan will normally take between ------
After the scan
1) When your child is back on Dolphin ward they will be allowed to wake up naturally.
Once awake they will then need to eat and drink something prior to being discharged.
They will need to stay on the ward for at least 2 hours following the scan.
2) The scan results will go the consultant who requested the MRI scan.
If the MRI scan fails
If your child does not go to sleep or wakes prior to completion of the scan (ie not adequate to be reported), then they will be re-booked for a 2nd attempt.
However they will be booked into a slot where it is possible to give additional IV sedation (medication into the vein) as well as the oral medication.
A MRI with IV Sedation letter will be given to you, which contains more detailed information about this.
If you do not want a 2nd attempt or would want your child to only have oral sedation please inform ------on