Inducing Stable Brain MRI to Infants Treated in the NICU

Abstract

Newborns and premature infants generally undergo brain MRI tests under sedation and anesthesia. Sedation or anesthesia has a risk of side effects and may be contraindicated in newborns or premature infants with con-genital diseases. Therefore, this study tested subjects by applying a self-sleep induction method. This study compared and analyzed a group (Group A), which tested 42 subjects using a sedation method (used chloral hydrate or Midazolam) for the brain MRI examination, and a group (Group B), which tested 84 subjects under self-sleep induction by applying a wrapping after feeding technique using a vacuum splint (MedVac). For image analysis, this study conducted SNR analysis between the two groups, calculated Cohen's Kappa coefficient to test the agreement between observers, and analyzed the examination time to evaluate the efficiency of the examination. The results of image analysis (SPSS independent sample t-test) were evaluated as T1 (p=0.101) and T2 (p=0.319), and the inter-observer agreement test (p=0.075) and statistical analysis of test time (p=0.160) were also statistically significant. There was no difference. Brain MRI through sleep induction is considered a safe and efficient test method. © The Korean Magnetics Society. All rights reserved.