Children's Hospital Boston 300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 355-6000
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Clinical Services:
Preparing for an MRI
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a way to take pictures of the body using a large magnet, radio waves and a computer. It is considered a "non-invasive" test because the machine takes pictures without touching the body. MRI does not use X-rays or any radioactive radiation.
What to expect
The MRI machine sits in a large room and looks like a tunnel. The patient lies down on a table that slides into the tunnel. One parent, spouse or friend may remain in the MRI room during the exam. If you are a mother who is pregnant, you may not stay in the room for safety reasons, but you may bring another adult to stay with your child.

A technologist operates the MRI machine from outside the room behind a glass window. He or she will talk and listen to you and your child through an intercom. The technologist will help you if you need anything during the exam. MRI examination of the heart usually lasts 45-90 minutes. The MRI machine will make loud banging and clicking noises during most of the exam, but we will give you/your child earplugs to soften the noise.

During the exam, you/your child may be asked to hold her breath for brief periods (10-20 seconds). Before the test begins, we will check to make sure the patient is comfortable holding his/her breath.

Most patients receive a contrast dye, called gadolinium, during the exam to help us obtain a better picture of blood vessels. The dye is given through an intravenous line (IV), which is inserted before the examination. A medicine that numbs the skin may be applied before the IV is placed in the skin. (patients will need to arrive one hour prior to the exam time to allow time for the medicine to take effect.

Can I eat or drink before the MRI?
ALL PATIENTS RECEIVING ANESTHESIA: Do not give your child any solid foods or full liquids, in the six hours before the scan. For example, if the MRI is scheduled for 10 a.m., stop giving solid foods and full liquids at 4 a.m. (Examples of solid foods are cereals, bread and candy. Examples of full liquids are milk, formula and orange juice.) You may give your child clear liquids up to three hours before the time of the MRI. For example, if the MRI is scheduled for 10 a.m., stop giving clear liquids at 7 a.m. (Examples of clear liquids are water, ginger ale, tea without milk and broth.) If you are nursing and your child is 6 months old or younger, you may give your child breast milk up to three hours before the MRI is scheduled.

PATIENTS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE ANESTHESIA OR SEDATION: No food or drink one hour before their scheduled exam.

Arriving at the hospital
Please make your travel plans carefully so you arrive on time. Keep in mind that traffic around the medical area is very congested. If you are late, the MRI may have to be rescheduled or delayed. Every effort will be made to keep MRI exams on time, but sometimes an emergency may delay the schedule.

If you have to reschedule the examination, please contact our scheduling office, 617-355-2797, as soon as possible. Please keep in mind that many patients like you are waiting to get their MRI test, and if you miss the appointment or do not let us know at least several days in advance, we cannot use the machine for another patient.

Tips for arriving at the hospital:

  • Explain to your child in an age-appropriate way why the MRI is needed and what to expect. Let your child know that you will be nearby during the scan and that they can bring a favorite book or toy for the waiting time.
  • Make your travel plans carefully to ensure that you arrive on time.
  • If your child is scheduled for anesthesia, please arrive no later than one hour before the exam time.
  • If you or your child are not scheduled for sedation or anesthesia, please arrive no later than 30 minutes before the exam time.
What happens before the MRI exam begins?
  • After you fill out a screening form, a nurse or a technologist will explain the exam, answer your questions and let you know if you need to change into a hospital gown.
  • You will change into hospital pajamas.
  • A nurse or technologist will put ECG leads (stickers) on you or your child's chest or back.
  • All patients who need gadolinium (contrast dye), anesthesia or a drug test, require an intravenous line (IV). A medicine that numbs the skin may be applied before the IV is placed in the skin. Patients will need to arrive one hour prior to the exam time to allow time for the medicine to take effect.
Will I receive sedation or anesthesia?
  • The patient needs to remain still in the MRI scanner during the test in order to obtain clear pictures. Young children and some older patients, who are unable to lie still or are too afraid of the machine, need to be asleep during the examination. In most young children with heart problems, general anesthesia, supervised by a specialist in cardiac anesthesia, is the safest method to maintain sleep inside the MRA machine. General anesthesia causes deep sleep and requires placement of a breathing tube.

  • The duration of anesthesia is tailored to the length of the examination. At the end of the examination, patients recover in the recovery room on the same floor and are typically discharged after approximately 2 hours of observation.

  • Patients who are scheduled for general anesthesia will have an appointment a few days before their MRI. During this visit, your child will have a physical check-up and you will have a chance to meet the anesthesiologist and ask questions.

  • Some patients experience anxiety inside the tunnel (claustrophobia). Most of the time the anxiety disappears after the patient gets used to the tunnel. If you feel that you or your child might have claustrophobia, please let your doctor know well in advance, so that a medication can be prescribed, such as Valium, to relieve the anxiety. In these cases, patients are not allowed to drive and should make transportation arrangements.

What happens during an MRI?
  • You may stay with your child during the MRI. If you are pregnant, you may bring someone to stay with your child (only one person may stay).
  • You will be asked to remove watches, credit cards and all jewelry, except 14k gold. These items will be kept in a locker.
  • A technologist operates the MRI machine from outside the room behind a glass window. He or she talks and listens to the patient through an intercom. The technologist will help the patient with anything they need during the exam.
  • A MRI examination of the heart usually lasts 45-90 minutes.
  • The MRI machine makes loud banging and clicking noises during most of the exam. We will provide earplugs to soften the noise.
  • You may watch or listen to a movie, music, or radio program during the MRI. You may bring your own DVD, CD, or portable music player.
  • During the exam, the patient may be asked to hold his breath for brief periods of time (10-20 seconds). This helps create clearer pictures. We will check with him before the test begins to see if he feels comfortable holding his breath.
  • During the MRI exam, most patients receive a contrast dye, called gadolinium, to help obtain a better picture of blood vessels.
What happens after the MRI exam?
  • Children who receive anesthesia will go to the recovery room. When your child is fully awake and can drink, he or she will be ready to go home. This usually takes about two hours.
  • Patients who receive anesthesia, sedation or Valium (or similar medication) must have a responsible adult with them when they leave the hospital. Any patient who receives sedation will not be allowed to drive themselves home.
How will we be informed of the MRI results?
When the MRI is finished, the cardiac MRI specialist will review the images. The results will be reported to your child's cardiologist, who will call you with the results.
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