Chandigarh: PGIMER launches Kitten MRI for pediatric patients

MRI is a common radiological diagnostic technique used for solving complex diagnostic problems. However, despite being a non-invasive, radiation-free and painless procedure, the MRI machine could be an intimidating sight for most kids, he said.

Scientific studies have suggested that children as well as adults experience considerable anxiety and distress during the procedure.

"Distress in children while undergoing MRI leads to restlessness, crying, excessive movement, refusal, premature termination of the imaging session or poor quality imaging. One of the main obstacles to effective MR imaging in children is their inability to lie still under the scanner, the duration of which could range from 20 minutes to an hour," said the spokesman.

Hence, sedation is often considered necessary to ensure good quality MRI scans in children.

"For those below five years of age, 100-per cent sedation is needed for a good MRI," said Khandelwal, adding that with Kitten MRI, it is expected that there will be no need for sedation in 30-35 per cent of the cases.

Sedation, however, has its downside with serious risks of respiratory depression and airway obstruction.