PURPOSE: To determine core body temperature variations in children undergoing MRI exams on 1.5 Tesla (T) and 3T magnetic field strengths and with and without propofol sedation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Temporal artery temperatures were prospectively collected on 400 consecutive patients undergoing 1.5 Tesla (T) or 3.0T MRI scans. A cumulative logistic regression model was created using age, weight, MRI protocol, sedation status, pre-MRI temperature and MRI strength to assess risk of temperature change. RESULTS: For patients with complete pre- and post-MRI temperature data, mean temperatures did not significantly change (-0.0155°C, 95%CI, -0.035, 0.064; n = 385). Temperature changes differed significantly between propofol-sedated and nonsedated patients (-0.26°C ± .44 versus 0.24°C ± 0.42; P < 0.0001), as did temperature changes for patients on the 3T (0.076°C ± 0.52) versus 1.5T (-0.06°C ± 0.48; P = 0.011). Sedation status, age, MRI strength, and MRI protocol accounted for 44.17% of temperature variance. The temperatures of 15 patients' (3.9%) decreased >1°C; 12 were on the 1.5T. All 7 patients (1.8%) who increased >1°C were non-sedates. CONCLUSION: Clinically significant core body temperature change is uncommon in children undergoing MRI with different magnetic field strengths, and with and without propofol sedation.
PURPOSE: To determine core body temperature variations in children undergoing MRI exams on 1.5 Tesla (T) and 3T magnetic field strengths and with and without propofol sedation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Temporal artery temperatures were prospectively collected on 400 consecutive patients undergoing 1.5 Tesla (T) or 3.0T MRI scans. A cumulative logistic regression model was created using age, weight, MRI protocol, sedation status, pre-MRI temperature and MRI strength to assess risk of temperature change. RESULTS: For patients with complete pre- and post-MRI temperature data, mean temperatures did not significantly change (-0.0155°C, 95%CI, -0.035, 0.064; n = 385). Temperature changes differed significantly between propofol-sedated and nonsedated patients (-0.26°C ± .44 versus 0.24°C ± 0.42; P < 0.0001), as did temperature changes for patients on the 3T (0.076°C ± 0.52) versus 1.5T (-0.06°C ± 0.48; P = 0.011). Sedation status, age, MRI strength, and MRI protocol accounted for 44.17% of temperature variance. The temperatures of 15 patients' (3.9%) decreased >1°C; 12 were on the 1.5T. All 7 patients (1.8%) who increased >1°C were non-sedates. CONCLUSION: Clinically significant core body temperature change is uncommon in children undergoing MRI with different magnetic field strengths, and with and without propofol sedation.