Does oxygen use during general anesthesia cause an artifact in magnetic resonance images?

Abstract

Objectives: In this study our aim was to compare possible effects of two different oxygen concentrations (100% vs. 50%) on hyperintense signal abnormality (HSA) in pediatric patients undergoing cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) under sevoflurane anesthesia. Materials and methods:Thirty pediatric patients undergoing cranial MRI were studied. Sevoflurane was used for induction and maintenance of anesthesia with an MRcompatible anesthesia machine. Patients, whose airway patency was maintained with laryngeal mask, were divided randomly in two groups. 100% oxygen and 50% oxygen/50% nitrous oxide was used for maintenance of anesthesia in Group I and II, respectively. FLAIR sequence images were analyzed by a radiologist who was unaware of the groups and were evaluated for HSA in 11 different brain regions in cerebrospinal fluid neighborhood. A three-point scale was used for evaluation. Results:HSA was seen in all study patients at least in one brain region. However, no significant difference was obtained between two groups in almost all brain regions (p>0.05).Conclusions: Use of oxygen in pediatric patients undergoing cranial MRI under sevoflurane anesthesia caused a low grade HSA. However, concentration of oxygen had no significant effect on the severity of HSA. J Clin Exp Invest 2012; 3(4): 477-482