Do you have to be sober to perform an MRI scan?
General
For magnetic resonance imaging examinations, you do not generally have to appear sober to the examination appointment.
Only for special MRI examinations, e.g. the representation of the biliary tract (MRCP) or the gastrointestinal tract (MDP, Sellink), it is necessary to be absolutely sober so that a good visual representation can be made possible. In this case, you are not allowed to eat or drink anything after 10 p.m. the day before.
In all other cases, the following applies: on an empty stomach, only those patients who are most likely to have to appear for the examination Contrast media get injected.
Sober means here that about 4 hours before the examination no more food or liquids should be ingested. A small breakfast in the morning is therefore not a problem as long as the 4-hour interval is adhered to.
Most of the time it is Taking medication in the time before the examination continue as usual, however, it can also occur here with certain, special MRI images Exceptions come.
MRI with contrast agent
Is the Administration of contrast media Planned or highly likely for the MRI scan, the patient may 4 hours before the examination no longer eat or drink.
The reason for this is that a Risk of aspiration (Vomit gets into the lungs) in the event of a Intolerance to the contrast agent administered consists. In addition to nausea and vomiting, allergic reactions can also occur. If the patient is sober, there is no content in the stomach that can be vomited. Since the patient lies flat on his back in the MRI tube during the examination, possible vomiting always carries the risk that acidic stomach contents could get into the lungs, where they can potentially cause damage. So being sober when administering contrast media is therefore pure Precaution.
Water / coffee before MRI
Whether water or coffee can be drunk before an MRI examination generally depends entirely on the type of examination. Most MRI exams do not require you to come to the appointment on an empty stomach, so drinking coffee and water is allowed.
In the case of examinations in which you have to appear sober, you must not eat or drink anything, including water, in the prescribed fasting period. This is the case with planned Administration of contrast medium (about 4 hours sober) or e.g. of the Examination of the gastrointestinal tract, of the Biliary tract or des Heart (on an empty stomach from 10 p.m. the previous day).
In front Examinations of the gastric and Intestinal mucous membranes as well as the Coronary arteries and at Stress shots should renounced coffee as the caffeine it contains can falsify the results. Among other things, it stimulates the production of Stomach acid on.
Smoking before MRI
Smoking prior to an MRI examination is not generally prohibited; smoking is only "prohibited" for special examinations or questions, as it could impair the quality of the images.
These include, among others Recordings of the gastrointestinal tract (e.g. small intestine according to Sellink), since smoking leads to increased production of gastric acid before the examination, which can sometimes make the image quality and the examination of the gastric and intestinal mucosa more difficult.
Even with MRI recordings of the heart, smoking must or should be avoided beforehand, especially with MRI examinations in which the heart is deliberately put under stress (stress MRI). Smoking, as well as the consumption of coffee, tea, chocolate or liquorice can lead to falsifications of the examination.
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