MRI Safety Course
Module 2- Emergency Situations
Performance Objective
At the end of module 2, the student will be able to list protocol procedures for the following emergency situations– Patient codes– Quenching– Adverse reaction to contrast– Fire
Emergency Situations
Patient Code Quenching Adverse Reaction to contrast Fire
Patient Code
Remove the patient immediately Patient should be treated outside the MRI
unit Call code as per hospital policy
Quenching
Can only occur if the MR unit has a superconducting magnet
Quench is a abrupt heating and expansion as the cyrogen changes from the liquid to gaseous state.
Quench results in a reduction or complete loss of the magnetic field.
Quench – con’t
All patients and personel must immediately leave the area.
All scan rooms should contain oxygen monitors
If the scan room is closed during a quench the helium will deplete the room of oxygen
Adverse Reaction to Contrast Media
All contrast agents used in MR are paramagnetic compounds
Contrast should be administered through intraveneous injection
Less than 1% of contrast agent studies are adverse related
Most common reactions– Nausea, vomiting, hives, headache
Fire
Most likely electrical in nature if in the MR suite
Should eliminate the electricity to the system components
Evacuate all patients and personnel. Briefing of the fire department.