Title
Effect of MRI Strength and Propofol Sedation on Pediatric Core Temperature Change
Department
Health Promotion and Physical Education
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-2011
Abstract
Purpose: To determine core body temperature variations in children undergoing MRI exams on 1.5 Tesla (T) and 3T magnetic field strengths and with and without propofol sedation.
Materials and Methods: Temporal artery temperatures were prospectively collected on 400 consecutive patients undergoing 1.5 Tesla (T) or 3.0T MRI scans. A cumulative logistic regression model was created using age, weight, MRI protocol, sedation status, pre-MRI temperature and MRI strength to assess risk of temperature change.
Results: For patients with complete pre- and post-MRI temperature data, mean temperatures did not significantly change (-0.0155 degrees C, 95% CI, -0.035, 0.064; n = 385). Temperature changes differed significantly between propofol-sedated and nonsedated patients (-0.26 degrees C +/- .44 versus 0.24 degrees C +/- 0.42; P < 0.0001), as did temperature changes for patients on the 3T (0.076 degrees C +/- 0.52) versus 1.5T (-0.06 degrees C +/- 0.48; P = 0.011). Sedation status, age, MRI strength, and MRI protocol accounted for 44.17% of temperature variance. The temperatures of 15 patients' (3.9%) decreased >1 degrees C; 12 were on the 1.5T. All 7 patients (1.8%) who increased >1 degrees C were non-sedates.
Conclusion: Clinically significant core body temperature change is uncommon in children undergoing MRI with different magnetic field strengths, and with and without propofol sedation.