Patient monitoring during magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

A monitoring system made up of commercially available components, permitting monitoring of BP, HR, ECG, and chest wall motion during MR scanning, is described and is shown to be free of disturbances to MR imaging function. Because MR scanners differ in their operating characteristics, it is to be expected that this monitoring system may require modification when used with higher field strength scanners. However, we believe optimal image quality and patient safety can be achieved. Since completion of this study, two patients requiring iv sedation and one unconscious patient whose trachea was intubated were monitored successfully with the system described in this article.