ISMRM: Does MRI have a role in the emergency department?

SINGAPORE - Does MRI have a role in the emergency department (ED)? Perhaps, but it requires vigorous safety monitoring, according to a presentation delivered May 4 at the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) meeting.Using a dedicated MRI system in the ED offers many potential benefits, from improving access to the modality for trauma patients to offering a more certain diagnosis than other imaging modalities can, said presenter Catherine Mandel, MD, of the University of Melbourne in Australia."MRI complements CT, ultrasound, and x-ray when it comes to trauma imaging," Mandel said. "And having MRI available in the emergency department means that ED patients don't have to compete with inpatients or outpatients for MRI time."There are downsides, however, to MRI in the ED, Mandel cautioned."MRI is expensive, staff may not have adequate work, safety issues are magnified, and ease of access may result in overuse," she said.Mandel stressed throughout her presentation the need to ensure safety for both patients and staff when it comes to using a dedicated MRI system in the ED."Safety versus speed creates tension," she said. "But no MRI is so urgent that it justifies skipping safety checks."Hospitals must develop a "safety first" culture for emergency department MRI, which should include tight access control, mandatory staff training, and vigorous screening, according to Mandel. As undertrained radiographers represent an increased safety risk, a minimum of t...
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: MRI ISMRM 2024 Source Type: news