Brain Magnetic Resonance Image Quality Initiative for Pediatric Neurological Examinations: Sedated versus Nonsedated Children

Abstract 

This quality improvement initiative compared children who are sedated versus children who are not sedated for the quality of images and the amount of time it took to obtain a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan on 4 to 7 year olds, with and without contrast, at Children's Hospital Boston. Results demonstrate that both nonsedated and sedated children who underwent brain MRI examinations received diagnostic quality studies. Although the number of studies with motion artifact and repeat studies were higher for the nonsedated group, the actual scan time did not significantly change.

Keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging, Children, Sedation: nonsedation, Complementary and alternative medicine