Pediatric MRI w/ sedation - experiences are appreciated

[Anonymous]

Has anyone needed their child to do an MRI with sedation? My kiddo is 6.5 years old. Currently in NOVA area.

I was told by my child's doctor that they could be in a light sedation but Fairfax hospital said they don't do anything but general for children.

I was taken aback and also uncomfortable with the idea of general for a scan.

Also, the scheduler mentioned something about goggles that a child could wear and watch cartoons or something so they could be distracted but didn't sound like that was the norm there.

Anyone have any experience with this? I'm a nervous person by nature and I like avoiding things like anesthesia if there is a chance for another option, especially for my kids.

Are there any other hospitals in VA that have more kid friendly experiences, like the goggles?

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure what kind of MRI your child is getting, but our child had to have a 30 minute brain MRI at Children’s Hospital with no sedation. They were eight years old. They got to watch a movie through goggles. I was able to be in the room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure what kind of MRI your child is getting, but our child had to have a 30 minute brain MRI at Children’s Hospital with no sedation. They were eight years old. They got to watch a movie through goggles. I was able to be in the room.

I appreciate your reply!

It's a brain scan to check for possible epilepsy. EEG showed some abnormalities.

How did your child do with no sedation and the goggles?

[Anonymous]

My daughter ended up getting a CAT scan but it was a totally different situation. But wit her, there was some question as to whether it was going to be a CAT scan or an MRI and the concern with the MRI would be that she would have to get sedation and ultimately few doctors talked about it and they agreed she could get a CAT scan first. Fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter ended up getting a CAT scan but it was a totally different situation. But wit her, there was some question as to whether it was going to be a CAT scan or an MRI and the concern with the MRI would be that she would have to get sedation and ultimately few doctors talked about it and they agreed she could get a CAT scan first. Fwiw.

Was this for a brain CT?

I'm still in some shock that Fairfax has zero option except general.. I mean, not even a lighter degree of sedation available?? Really?

[Anonymous]

DD had this done when she was 2. She was running through a playground before lunchtime.

[Anonymous]

My DD has had no sedation MRIs at Children’s Hospital, but she was older for her first one. 5th grade, I think? I wonder if it is your child’s age that triggers the general anesthesia requirement? There is an office of Children’s that offers “TV watching” MRIs, I’m pretty sure the DC campus doesn’t. I think it’s in MD. I have also gotten several brain MRIs and I have been in there with my DD. It is extremely hard to keep you head still and could be very anxiety provoking as they put kind of a brace around your head to help keep you still. I would do Childrens over INOVA because of their pediatric expertise regardless of what happens with the sedation question.

[Anonymous]

Also, meant to add if you are questioning the wisdom of a scan. Maybe seek a second opinion. Though I know it’s insanely hard to get neurology appoints.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter ended up getting a CAT scan but it was a totally different situation. But wit her, there was some question as to whether it was going to be a CAT scan or an MRI and the concern with the MRI would be that she would have to get sedation and ultimately few doctors talked about it and they agreed she could get a CAT scan first. Fwiw.

Was this for a brain CT?

I'm still in some shock that Fairfax has zero option except general.. I mean, not even a lighter degree of sedation available?? Really?

It was, but not for epilepsy.

We went to Fairfax radiology for the CT, I believe, but a different location than where i get my mammos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD had this done when she was 2. She was running through a playground before lunchtime.

Thanks for your reply!

Wow, that's awesome - the last time I was knocked out I was a wreck. But they made me fast for 10 or 12 hours, I think, and then my surgery was delayed by 2.5 hours so by the time I woke up it had been damn near 24 hours with nothing in my stomach. It was not happy.l about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD has had no sedation MRIs at Children’s Hospital, but she was older for her first one. 5th grade, I think? I wonder if it is your child’s age that triggers the general anesthesia requirement? There is an office of Children’s that offers “TV watching” MRIs, I’m pretty sure the DC campus doesn’t. I think it’s in MD. I have also gotten several brain MRIs and I have been in there with my DD. It is extremely hard to keep you head still and could be very anxiety provoking as they put kind of a brace around your head to help keep you still. I would do Childrens over INOVA because of their pediatric expertise regardless of what happens with the sedation question.

Gotcha - I think I'll contact Children's and see if I can talk with someone.

I feel like Fairfax is being quite pushy. They already called me twice and my husband once to do the pre-op call (I was helping our younger kiddo and missed the calls).

Thanks for your reply!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, meant to add if you are questioning the wisdom of a scan. Maybe seek a second opinion. Though I know it’s insanely hard to get neurology appoints.

My husband brought this up - wanting to know if it's definitely necessary at this time.

Kiddo is also scheduled for a 72 hour EEG monitor so I'm thinking we do that first and then if that shows anything additional from the first 30 min one then we do the MRI.

Kiddo was able to lay still for the 30 min though, so I have some hope they'd be okay in the machine, albeit there are other considerations there vs just lying on a bed for the EEG.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure what kind of MRI your child is getting, but our child had to have a 30 minute brain MRI at Children’s Hospital with no sedation. They were eight years old. They got to watch a movie through goggles. I was able to be in the room.

I appreciate your reply!

It's a brain scan to check for possible epilepsy. EEG showed some abnormalities.

How did your child do with no sedation and the goggles?

That is what they were checking our child for too. She complained it was loud but otherwise was distracted watching the movie. I was a wreck TBH, but she was a trooper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, meant to add if you are questioning the wisdom of a scan. Maybe seek a second opinion. Though I know it’s insanely hard to get neurology appoints.

My husband brought this up - wanting to know if it's definitely necessary at this time.

Kiddo is also scheduled for a 72 hour EEG monitor so I'm thinking we do that first and then if that shows anything additional from the first 30 min one then we do the MRI.

Kiddo was able to lay still for the 30 min though, so I have some hope they'd be okay in the machine, albeit there are other considerations there vs just lying on a bed for the EEG.

So has your child had a visible seizure? The MRI is looking for a possible cause of the seizure to rule out epilepsy... I didn't realize that when we did the MRI. Don't google that. The EEG will show the brain activity and how often epileptic spikes are occurring during sleep and awake times.

[Anonymous]

My son had an MRI when he was 5. We scheduled it for 6 AM at the place near 7777 Leesburg Pike in Falls Church.

I talked him through it over and over for a few days beforehand.

My son had a great time. He knew it would be loud. He knew it would be partly enclosed. He knew he’d have to hold still.

Afterwards, everything was MRI-this and MRI-that.

When we got the results, I went through them with him and pointed out what each bone and muscle was.

It was a great experience. Last month, he learned about fMRIs and wants one done now.