Feed and wrap magnetic resonance urography provides anatomic and functional imaging in infants without anesthesia

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Urology

Background:

• Sedation or anesthesia is often required for magnetic resonance urography (MRU) in infants, posing risks and increasing costs.
• Developing non-sedation techniques for infant MRU is crucial for improving patient safety and accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and evaluate a novel 'feed and wrap' technique (FW-MRU) for performing MRU in infants without sedation or anesthesia.
• To assess the feasibility and quality of imaging obtained using the FW-MRU method.

Main Methods:

• Eighteen infants underwent MRU using the 'feed and wrap' technique without any sedating medications.
• Dynamic contrast-enhanced images were acquired.
• Advanced imaging techniques, including dynamic radial VIBE and compressed sensing reconstruction, were employed to mitigate motion artifacts.

Main Results:

• The FW-MRU technique was successful in 17 out of 18 infants.
• The 'feed and wrap' magnetic resonance urography yielded high-quality anatomical and functional data of the renal system.
• The method demonstrated effectiveness in obtaining diagnostic-quality images despite the absence of sedation.

Conclusions:

• The 'feed and wrap' magnetic resonance urography (FW-MRU) is a promising anesthesia-free imaging modality for infants.
• FW-MRU enables the acquisition of both anatomic and functional information of the urinary tract in non-sedated infants.
• This technique represents a significant advancement in pediatric diagnostic imaging, offering a safer alternative to traditional MRU.