Contributions of the nursing consultation in performing Magnetic Resonance Imaging without anesthesia in pediatric patients

Abstract

Introduction: Nurses continually strive to improve the quality of care, especially in child health. With the increase in procedures such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for pediatric patients, often performed under general anesthesia, concerns arise about associated risks, including cognitive and behavioral adverse effects. The creation of a pre-MRI nursing consultation aims to reduce the use of anesthesia in pediatric patients aged 6 to 12 years. This innovative project, implemented at the Portuguese Oncology Institute (IPO) of Porto, aims for 20% of pediatric patients to undergo MRI without anesthesia, explaining to parents and caregivers the benefits of this non-sedated exam. During the consultation, clear instructions are provided on the procedure and how the pediatric patient should behave, including the use of headphones and equipment demonstration. After the MRI, a satisfaction questionnaire is provided to assess the process.

General Objective: To highlight the relevance of the nursing consultation in the Radiology Service of IPO Porto – 2023, in performing MRI without anesthesia in pediatric patients.

Specific Objectives: To describe the procedures carried out in the nursing consultation; to present the results of the impact of the nursing consultation on reducing the number of MRI procedures with anesthesia.

Methods: Pre-MRI Nursing consultations were conducted for scheduled MRIs, beginning in January 2023 and ending in December 2023. A total of 30 Nursing consultations were conducted, with an average duration of about 1 hour. The inclusion criteria were patients aged between 6 and 12 years. Exclusion criteria included patients with cognitive deficits, clinical limitations, worsening clinical conditions, and/or lack of cooperation.

Results: Thirty nursing consultations were conducted prior to the MRI for 30 children/parents/caregivers. Through the consultation and the associated teachings, 23 children were able to undergo the exam without the need for anesthesia.

Conclusions: The implementation of the consultation has the potential to bring substantial improvements for the benefit not only of the children but also of institutional processes and outcomes. It aims to improve the quality of nursing care for pediatric patients undergoing MRI.