What can I expect before my MRI exam?

There is little preparation for an MRI exam. Take your daily medications as you normally would, unless instructed otherwise. There are few dietary restrictions for an MRI. For those exams, you will be notified of the requirements.

• Please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your exam and check in with the receptionist. You will need to complete the MRI screening form.
• To eliminate possible MR safety issues, you will be asked to change into a hospital gown. A locker will be supplied to secure your belongings.
• A technologist will verify your identification and the requested exam. Your screening form will be reviewed by the technologist in consultation with the radiologist if indicated. If MRI contrast is indicated for the exam, an IV cannula will be inserted in your arm by a nurse or technologist.

What can I expect during my MRI scan?

• The duration of the procedure will vary but the average is 45 minutes to one hour per body part.
• You will be required to lie still during the actual MR scanning. Depending on the body part that is being examined, you may be instructed to hold your breath for up to 30 seconds.
• The magnet is permanently open on both ends. There is also a two way intercom system for communication between patient and technologist. The part of the body being scanned will be placed in the middle of the magnet.
• During the actual imaging, you will hear a loud intermittent banging noise. You will be provided with earplugs or head phones to minimize the noise during the procedure.
• The technologist will also provide you with an alarm button to alert the technologist of any discomfort you may experience at any point during the MRI exam.
• Some MRI exams require an injection of intravenous MRI contrast. Inform the technologist if you experience any discomfort during the injection.

What can I expect after my MRI scan?

• If a dye injection is used, the IV is removed from the arm before you go home.
• Allergic reaction from gadolinium dye is extremely rare. However, if you experience symptoms such as rash, hives, or shortness of breath, you should notify the technologist immediately if you are still at the imaging facility, or call your doctor or go to the nearest hospital if you have already left the imaging facility.
• In the event that sedation is needed (such as for claustrophobia), you will be sent home once awake and alert. If you receive sedation, someone must drive you home.

How to Minimize your Fears

If you are scared about your MRI, keep in mind that people talk about MRI and claustrophobia. Older MRI machines had narrower tunnels than the modern MRI equipment. The older machines were often relatively dark, and the scanner's ceiling was very close to the patient’s face and head.

• Our scanners are fully lit, ventilated, and open at both ends. These machines greatly improve patients’ comfort during the exam and also yield higher resolution so the images are clearer.
• Our state-of-the-art MRI scanners have “motion correction” imaging that allows for a faster examination. That means the patient is in the scanner for a shorter time.
• For some MRI exams, depending on the body part being imaged, we may not need to have your head inside the scanner at all. This dramatically lowers the expectation or experience of claustrophobia. For example, exams of the knee, foot or leg do not require patients to enter the MRI scanner tube completely—only the leg is in the tube.
• Our well-trained technologists work very closely with you to help lower anxieties, and we will tell you how long to expect your imaging to actually take. • During your exam, our technologist will see you and be in contact with you at all times. Speakers inside the scanner will enable the technologist to communicate with you and hear what you say. You also will have a call button (in the form of a squeeze ball) so that you can let the technologist know if you have any problems relaxing during the procedure.
• If you wish, you can be given earplugs or a headset to help block out noise from the scanner.

What to Expect During your MRI Procedure

Very little preparation for an MRI exam is needed, but you should not carry objects containing metal in to the MRI exam room. Before your exam you will be asked to complete an MRI Screening Form. You will also be asked to discuss any implants in your body that may contain metal. During the scanning process, you will be inside the scanner (the tunnel-like scanning machine). You will hear clicking or banging noises as the magnetic field is altered as part of the normal exam process. The banging varies in time and in loudness, sometimes occurring rapidly and sometimes just occasionally. The sounds are part of every MRI exam.

The time for the MRI exam depends upon the imaging exam being performed. During the exam, you will be expected to hold relatively still. You may be asked to repeatedly hold your breath for a few seconds at a time. If your procedure requires the addition of a contrast liquid, you will have an IV needle placed in your arm, and this will be removed before you go home.

Preparation for the Exam

• The technologist will verify your identification and exam requested and explain how to lie on MRI couch and explain you safety measures and ask you not to move as it will create motion blur.

During the Exam

• The duration of the exam will vary, but the average is about 30-60 minutes.
• The technologist will position you on the exam table, and give you instructions.

Infection control measures in Radiology & Imaging Cleaning and disinfection protocols are rigorously followed at Jehangir Hospital. All surfaces that come in contact with staff, patient and visitor are frequently cleaned in a systematic way with approved disinfectants. All accessories used for patients are decontaminated after very use. For change of attire a fresh set of clothes is given for those radiological investigations where changing to a gown is necessary. Also clean bed sheets are supplied to each patient.

Hand Hygiene is stringently followed as per infection control guidelines.

Prevention of Infection

Jehangir hospital has a comprehensive Infection Control Programme, which covers all aspects of prevention of infection. The apex body is the Infection Control Committee which comprises of representatives from all departments of the hospital. This committee meets once a month to take decisions on various issues pertaining to Infection Control and prevention, and also review the various quality indicators like rates of infection, hand hygiene compliance rates, Needle Stick Injuries and trainings in IC. The committee has been functioning for the last 16 years and has played an instrumental role in laying down the infection Control Programme of the hospital. The Chair of the committee is Dr Vikram Padbidri, the consultant Microbiologist and Infection Control Officer, and the coordinator is Sr Reena Bhonge, the infection Control nurse.The hospital tracks various Quality Indicators like Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP), Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI), Central Line Associated BloodStream Infections (CLABSI), Surgical Site Infections (SSIs), Hand Hygiene compliance (HHC), Needle Stick Injuries (NSI) and Mucus membrane exposures (MME). These rates are discussed in the monthly HICCMs.

The ground work is done by the Infection Control Team comprising of the Infection Control Officer and the Infection Control Nurses. Their activities include taking daily rounds of the hospital, identifying improvement areas, training staff and checking adherence to the protocols and policies of the hospital. The protocols and policies are documented in the Infection Control Manual, which is accessible to the staff via the intranet. Employee training forms an important component, and in addition to the daily briefings and induction trainings, annual programmes are conducted. This include the Infection Prevention week, Hand Hygiene Campaigns and NSI Campaigns which are designed with interactive and engaging elements like poster, slogan competitions, skits, demos and games to make learning interesting. The IC programme also includes Employee Safety like Vaccination for Hepatitis B, Chickenpox and Influenza.