New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery saw a 0% sedation rate of nearly 2,000 pediatric MRI scans, according to a study from Lerner Children’s Pavilion at HSS.
Sedation is used in up to 28% of pediatric MRIs, but it can pose risks for patients and their families. However researchers found that using Certified Child Life Specialists interventions improves the efficiency of the MRI process.
HSS looked at 1,936 patients between the ages of 4 and 12 who underwent a total 2,319 MRI scans over eight years. None of the children who had CCLS intervention prior to and/or during MRI imaging needed IV sedation.
Children between ages 5 and 10 appeared to show the strongest results, and the strategy is particularly effective for children with sensory processing issues, the study’s co-author Melissa Collins, said in a May 21 news release.
