New Mri Techniques For Imaging Neonates And Infants With Minimal Sedation

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a secure technique for examining the human brain. Nevertheless, a standard magnetic resonance (MR) scan is very susceptible to motion and necessitates the individual to remain still during the process, posing a significant obstacle for pediatric studies. Therefore, in a medical environment, sedation or general anesthesia is often used. In the context of study with healthy individuals, the use of anesthetics is not advisable due to ethical concerns and the possibility of causing long-term damage. In this article, we will discuss the procedures involved in preparing a kid for an MRI scan, as well as the specific techniques and instruments used throughout the scanning process to ensure a good outcome. In addition, we do a thorough assessment of how studies have documented the scanning process and the level of success achieved in scanning. We conducted a search of papers using specific topic headings in PubMed and found 86 research that used brain MRI in healthy individuals aged 0 to 6 years. Preparations for the scan were appropriately tailored to the subject's age. Infants and young children were scanned while they were sleeping, after feeding and swaddling. On the other hand, older children were scanned while they were awake. It was challenging to compare the efficiency of various processes due to the diverse reporting of the techniques utilized and the rates of success. According to this assessment, we suggest providing more comprehensive documentation of the scanning method in order to identify the specific aspects that influence the effectiveness of scanning. Over time, this might benefit the research area by obtaining data of superior quality, as well as aiding the clinical field in minimizing the reliance on anesthetics. In this section, we will provide the procedure used for scanning newborns aged 2 to 5 weeks in the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, as well as techniques for soothing neonates during the scans.