Non-pharmacological strategies to obtain usable magnetic resonance images in non-sedated infants: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Paediatric brain MRI findings following congenital heart surgery: a systematic review

“…One study used a modified standardised assessment tool21 to examine posture, general movements, tone, primitive reflexes and muscle stretch reflexes, cranial nerves and reactivity/ behaviour in 22 neonates. Preoperative neuromotor assessment was performed at a median age of 72–13 days, providing a median sum score of 2 (range 0–6) out of a maximum score of 18. Postoperatively, 30 neonates with a median age of 15 (9–86) days had a median score of 2.5 (range 0–7).…”

“…Brain MR scans obtained before and after surgery have the potential to provide unique insights into the nature, severity and timing of brain lesions acquired around the time of surgery. Comparison of presurgery and postsurgery brain images provides a means of confidently separating surgery-induced changes from other sources of injury, especially where surgery is performed soon after delivery 6…”

Real-time motion monitoring improves functional MRI data quality in infants

“…Though previous studies have reported successful collection of MRI scans from infants when using infant-specific protocols, the definition of success (or success rate) was qualitative and/or subjective ( Torres et al, 2020 ). For example, studies testing the efficacy of a feed and swaddle procedure on structural MRI scan quality reported 80–95% success rates when defining success as qualitatively providing sufficient information for making a clinical diagnosis ( Antonov et al, 2017 , Templeton et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Our results are promising for future neuroimaging studies in infants and may inform research extending the use of real-time motion monitoring to other MR imaging modalities both in research and clinical settings. Most clinical brain imaging in infants implements structural MRI scans, which are also negatively impacted by motion and have more variability in success rates compared to other MRI modalities ( Reuter et al, 2015 , Torres et al, 2020 ). Thus, the development of real-time motion monitoring for structural sequences could allow for more efficient use of hospital resources as well as a reduction in the need for anesthesia, helping to avoid the risks and costs associated with sedation.…”

“…Brain MRI is a powerful tool for studying neurodevelopment during infancy ( Graham et al, 2015 , Woodward et al, 2006 ). Head motion during image acquisition is detrimental to both functional and structural MRI, creating a significant hurdle to obtaining high-quality infant MRI data ( Cusack et al, 2018 , Torres et al, 2020 , Zhang et al, 2019 ). In clinical settings, anesthesia is sometimes used with pediatric populations to reduce head motion during scans.…”