How to dress on Heart MRI Day?
No metal should be worn, including metal hidden under clothes. The person being scanned will most likely be asked to change into a hospital gown so please dress accordingly. Please wear comfortable clothing that is easy to change in and out of.
Examples of items not to wear: Jewelry (such as necklaces, bracelets), piercings, hair clips, bobby pins, watches, dentures, hearing aids, wigs, metal zippers/fasteners/buttons, underwire (bra), belts, buckles.
How can I prepare my child for a Heart MRI?
Many centers have specially trained child behavior professionals, often called Child Life specialists, who can help. They will meet with you and your child before the Heart MRI to help explain the study in a child-friendly way. Child Life Specialists have great experience in helping children through medical procedures. Be sure to ask ahead of time if you think your child would benefit from this.
It is important to be open and honest with your child about the Heart MRI so they are prepared, but to also convey that even though it may be scary, the Heart MRI scan is very safe. Sometimes showing them images of an MRI machine ahead of time can be helpful, and there are also recordings of the sounds that MRI machines make that are available on the internet. Playing these for your child can help them know what to expect.
When you get to the hospital, after checking in you will go to an area outside of the scanning room to prepare, ask and answer questions, and meet the team. Then you will go into the scan room but if anesthesia is required you may go to sleep in the area outside of the scan room.
People to meet before entering the scan room
Who will I meet before my scan?
- Nurse: The nurse will help you get ready for your test. She or he will help get you settled in, may place your IV and will ask you or the grownup you are with some questions about your history and any medicines you take. She will probably ask you your name and tell you hers! Nurses typically try to make you as comfortable as possible!
- Anesthesia provider: The anesthesia provider will help you fall asleep before your scan and will wake you up after it is completed. They will give you some medicines through your IV or have you breathe in a mask to help you fall asleep. They will ask your grown up some questions about your history and will talk to them about the medicines they will be using. They will be close by to make sure your scan goes well and you are fast asleep.
- Child Life specialist: The Child Life specialist will help you get used to all the sounds and sights in the hospital and will help answer your questions or ask the people who can answer your questions. They might also help you pass the time as you are waiting to start your test.
- Technologist: The technologist will help you get comfortable in the MRI scanner once you are asleep. They will take pictures of your heart and will talk to the doctor while taking pictures. They are there to make sure you are ok while you are in the scanner!
Why are they asking me questions about metal? If I have metal in my body can I get a Heart MRI?
All metal must be disclosed to the MRI center. It is possible to perform Heart MRI despite indwelling metal depending on the type, local policies, and individual scanner settings. These metallic implants may include pacemakers, defibrillators (ICDs), loop recorders, prosthetic valves, stents, sternal wires, or other medical implants.
Please contact your imaging center to see if you can undergo a Heart MRI at their center. Please make sure to let your Heart MRI center know if you have had metal shavings, shrapnel or other types of metal, including medical devices, that you may have inside your body. Tattoos may also contain metal in the ink and will need to be monitored closely during the scan.
Will an IV be required?
An IV is a small tube inserted into a vein, usually in the arm or hand, to allow for delivery of medicines or other agents. Many Heart MRI studies can be performed without an IV, but some do require an IV depending on the information your doctor has asked for. An IV will be needed if an MRI contrast agent is used or if medication needs to be given during the Heart MRI, such as for a stress study. The imaging center can let you know if an IV will be needed. The IV will be easily removed by the staff at the end of the Heart MRI.
If an IV is needed, there are some things that can be done to minimize pain when placing the IV. If you have concerns about this, please speak with the providers at the imaging center about what they have available to help.
Entering the scan room for the Heart MRI
What is “contrast” and will it be needed?
Depending on the information requested by your doctor, the Heart MRI may require the use of contrast. Contrast is a special liquid given through an IV that helps in making the MRI images. MRI contrast agents are known as gadolinium-based contrast agents and are different than iodinated contrast agents used in CT or catheterization procedures. If you have not had an MRI previously then you would not have had exposure to gadolinium through other imaging procedures. Individuals who may have had a reaction to an iodinated contrast agent are at low risk of having a similar reaction to the MRI gadolinium-based contrast, but please be sure to discuss with your physician regarding any prior allergies or reaction before undergoing a HeartMRI.
What are the common side effects of Heart MRI contrast?
During the contrast injection, many people may feel a cool sensation up the arm. Few people may have a metallic taste in their mouth. These sensations are normal and should not last more than a minute.
Most common side effects include:
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Headache
- Dizziness
Though rare, serious side effects can occur. Please inform your medical provider if you have a known prior gadolinium allergy or have kidney disease. If you have a known, prior allergy to gadolinium-based contrast, you can be pre-medicated after discussion with your physician. Although rare, some MRI contrast can build up in the body if the person has serious kidney problems, and these individuals should not be receiving certain types of MRI contrast.
Each imaging center has a consent form that you may be required to sign for contrast injection. Please address any specific questions with your physician.
What about claustrophobia or anxiety during the scan?
Depending on the severity of the claustrophobia, some could still undergo a Heart MRI by closing their eyes, using a sleep mask, or obtaining a prescription for anti-anxiety medications. If an anti-anxiety medication is needed, please coordinate with the imaging center about this ahead of time, including when the person should take the medication. If the person getting the Heart MRI will be signing consent for themself, it is important that the anti-anxiety medication be taken after the consenting process.
Many centers can also provide music and/or videos that will help distract or calm the patient during the scan. If claustrophobia is severe, and there are no other testing options, you may need to be put to sleep by an anesthesiologist to complete the exam. Unfortunately, currently there is no open MRI option to image the heart.
