MRI Sedation ?

ILoveBoys

My younger son (26 months when this happens) is having an MRI done in about 3 weeks. I understand they will sedate him, and the effects may last for quite a good part of the morning. I was wondering who out there has been through an MRI with a small child, and what kinds of stories you have about the effect of the sedation on your child. I know all kids are not the same, but I'd like to draw from your experiences. Thanks!

breezy0629

First, are you talking MAC Sedation or Conscious Sedation? I believe I have some info for you.... but there is a huge difference.

lazysusan

our son was sedated around that age for an MRI.  He was a little grumpy and tired initially, but was walking around soon after.  He was a little unsteady, but it wasn't too big of a deal. 

AB&TB

My son has had 4 MRIs to dte, and has a 5th coming up in September.  His first he was 2mo, his last he was 11mo.  They give him some gas and it makes him go to sleep, then they put in the IV for the contrast dye.  The procedure last a little longer than a hour, and then they come and get you after they start to come out of the sedation.  He gets pretty fussy and is still sleepy  and shaky for about 30 min, but then he starts to feel better after a bottle.  In the car ride home he almost always goes right back to sleep.  When he wakes again, he is almost 100%.  Good luck!

ILoveBoys

Okay, I had to call the clinic and ask about the sedation, because the paperwork didn't specify the TYPE of sedation he was getting. They said that DS is scheduled under general anesthesia and so they'll be putting him to sleep. The man on the phone (lol) said that he would be back to normal within an hour or two after the test? So....any stories to tell now?

ILoveBoys

Well, when the man on the phone told me that they had him scheduled for general anesthesia, he said he wasn't sure why they did that, but that they must have a reason. He said that with the general anesthesia, the patients are usually a lot more still and they can get clearer pictures that way. Plus, the MRI takes an hour, dont know if that matters. He asked if it was alright with me if they used general anesthesia, and I told him that I wanted them to do whatever they needed to do in order to get the pictures they needed the first time. (head/brain, facial structure)

But on that note, I am going to call back and ask HOW they do their general anesthesia, because there is a way to do it where they can use gas, so they don't have to intubate. I'm gonna check on that, thanks.

ILoveBoys

OKAY. I called back AGAIN and talked to another lady in Peds Anesthesia and she said that he will be intubated for his MRI. Sigh. My baby. I will be able to sit with him while they use the gas and put in the IV, and then I'll have to leave before they put the tube in. Then after the test is over (an hour maybe more) they will bring him up to his room/recovery, make sure he can wake up and cough a little bit, then extubate him and then we can come in. So I don't actually have to see it, but still....

breezy0629

My 'stories' were about Conscious Sedation.... but we have done General Anestesia for surgery & it went well. Exactly what you explained - except that I never had any clue that I would suit up THAT quick to be with him for SO SHORT of a time before they escorted me out. But it was worth it.

 I hope it goes well. Our MRI is scheduled for Sept 1, MAC Sedation (a level below General) b/c our round with Conscious Sedation failed. 

 Ask lots of questions. 

ILoveBoys

Oh don't worry...questions I'm good at. And I wouldn't have had any idea about any of this, except when you asked what kind of sedation, I called to ask. So thank you. And then when I talked to my mom she asked what kind of general they were doing and I didnt know, so I called and asked that too. It just makes me nervous.

autumngirl

DD has had two MRIs and they were much harder on DH and I. lol

 The only thing I would suggest is not to make the same mistake I did. I didn't realize that with the IV, DD had plenty of fluid in her body. On the ride home I gave DD a whole sippy of water which she chugged. I then gave her a second sippy. She then threw up multiple times on the ride home from too full belly.

 

The second MRI went very smoothy and no throw up!

breezy0629

The meds they use can make them nauseas too... so from what I hear, it's not uncommon for them to throw up once or twice. But more than that would warrant a call IMO.

Someone else said that their child was good about 30 mins after they woke up.

MINE (and I do think he's a little diff. with meds) with General Anestesia was pretty out of it the rest of the day, but when he was awake he could walk/talk. Just sluggish.

With Conscious Sedation Meds.. he was 100% drunk. He woke up. He THOUGHT he could talk. he THOUGHT he could walk, sit, etc... but he could NOT. It was about 8-10 hours before he could walk without falling over. All through the day he got a little better.... but he had no gross motor control at all when we got home (~3 hours later). He was just flopping everywhere. 

ILoveBoys

The man I talked to on the phone said that he would be in recovery room anywhere from an hour to two. I'm fine with that. Keep us until he is stable for sure. I worked in an outpatient heart procedure unit where they obviously used sedation to keep them still (conscious sedation but still) so I'm all for staying until you feel like you can safely go home!

He also acted like the sedation would wear off pretty quickly, so I'm wondering if they'll use something like dipravan (sp?) which when you turn the IV off, wears off in a few minutes and allows them to come out of sedation fairly quickly. Don't know.

He's scheduled for an EEG the next morning, which they've said they may not need depending on the results of the MRI (I guess). So he may be sedated for that too.....but I wouldn't think they'd put him under general for that?