Alberta Children’s Hospital health information
Information About Your Child’s MRI/MRE/MRCP
MRE is an MRI study designed for evaluating the intestine. Importantly, the MRE does not involve any ionizing radiation. Please arrive at least 60 minutes prior to your appointment time and report to Diagnostic Imaging on the Main Floor of the Alberta Children’s Hospital. 1. Your child must not eat or drink for 8 hours before the appointment time. 2. Please give your child his/her regular medication with a small amount of water. 3. Upon arrival, your child will drink water or apple juice (~3-4 cups) mixed with an oral contrast agent (PEG 3350, a common stool softener). 4. Approximately 30-45 minutes after, the test will begin with the first set of sequences assessing how far along the intestine the oral contrast has reached. Once the oral contrast has reached the large intestine, the test will be continued. 5. Your child will receive an intravenous through which intravenous contrast (gadolinium) and an anti-bowel motility agent (buscopan) will be given. The intravenous and oral contrast agents improve image quality and the anti-bowel motility agent minimizes artefacts due to bowel motility. 6. The test may take up to 30-40 minutes. Only one parent or legal guardian may go with the child into the scanning room during the test. (Please make childcare arrangements for any other children during this time.) If you cannot keep your appointment, please call the Booking Office at 403 955 7987 to reschedule or cancel and advise your physician For children who will receive additional MRI tests (MRCP or MRI pelvis): •
Depending on the type of tests and timing, the additional tests may be combined with the MRE. However, if the duration of time in the scanner is too long, then the tests may not be combined.
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) The MRCP is an MRI study designed for evaluating the biliary tree and pancreatic ducts. Importantly, the MRCP does not involve any ionizing radiation. Please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your appointment time and report to Diagnostic Imaging on the Main Floor of the Alberta Children’s Hospital. 1. Your child must not eat or drink for 4 to 6 hours before the appointment time. 2. Please give your child his/her regular medication with a small amount of water. 3. Depending on the reason for the test and what is seen on the MRCP, your child may or may not receive an intravenous through which intravenous contrast (gadolinium) will be given. The intravenous contrast is important for image quality. 4. The scans will take ~30 minutes. The total visit time will take ~50 minutes. Only one parent or legal guardian may go with the child into the scanning room during the test. (Please make childcare arrangements for any other children during this time.) If you cannot keep your appointment, please call the Booking Office at 403 955 7987 to reschedule or cancel and advise your physician MRI pelvis The MRI pelvis is an MRI study designed for evaluating the pelvic region. Importantly, MRI does not involve any ionizing radiation. Please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your appointment time and report to Diagnostic Imaging on the Main Floor of the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Your child will receive an intravenous through which intravenous contrast (gadolinium) will be given. The intravenous contrast is important for image quality. The scans will take ~30-45 minutes. The total visit time will take ~50-60 minutes. Only one parent or legal guardian may go with the child into the scanning room during the test. (Please make childcare arrangements for any other children during this time.) If you cannot keep your appointment, please call the Booking Office at 403 955 7987 to reschedule or cancel and advise your physician