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.