OpenAnesthesia and the APSF: Achieving Safe and Quality Anesthesia Care with Education Innovation

Safety during MRI is of utmost importance. Preoperative evaluation with attention to possible contraindications to MRI should focus on the presence of pacemakers, implanted cardioverter-defibrillators, cochlear implants, nerve stimulators, ferrous clips, metal fragments, or bullet fragments. These objects can lead to heating and movement within the body during MRI. Some newer nonferrous vascular clips, staples, orthopedic implants, and heart valves are not contraindicated for MRI. Patients with claustrophobia or those who are morbidly obese may have difficulty tolerating MRI awake and thus require sedation or general anesthesia in order to complete the MRI study. Metal jewelry, permanent makeup and tattoos may interfere with MRI imaging quality due to an interaction with the metallic component of some of the pigments.