Respiratory monitoring during MR imaging - The clinical value of a new fibre-optical monitor

Purpose. To assess the clinical utility of a fibre-optical monitor for resp iratory monitoring in patients undergoing MR imaging without general anaest hesia. Material and Methods: One hundred consecutive patients were included at eac h of 3 MR units (300 patients in total). The technicians estimated the valu e of monitoring the respiratoy rate on a 5-graded scale. Conditions that mi ght complicate the MR examination were noted. Results: The respiratory monitor was well tolerated by 99% of the patients. It was rated as valuable or very valuable in one-third of the total group, but in slightly more than two-thirds of the group of patients with some co ndition that might have complicated the MR examination. The estimated value of respiratory rate monitoring did not correlate to the age or sex of the patients, the type of examination, or to whether contrast medium was used o r not, but it was significantly more often considered valuable in patients placed in the headfirst position than in those placed in feet-first. Conclusion: Respiratory rate monitoring during MR imaging seems to be valua ble in many patients, particularly if some condition that might complicate the MR examination is present.