Will you help ease a child’s fear of an MRI this Christmas?

For a sick child, having to undergo an MRI scan can be a frightening experience. Children are referred to have an MRI scan when doctors want further information on possible brain and spinal abnormalities, to detect brain or spinal tumours, or to find the causes of seizures and developmental delays. Not only do children find it difficult to lie still for the 20 minute scan, but more than two thirds experience significant anxiety brought on by claustrophobia and the extremely loud noise produced by the MRI. Often, the child must been given a general anaesthetic to enable the scan to take place. Doctors at Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) have identified a new piece of equipment which will help distract children and ease their discomfort by entertaining them and reducing their feeling of claustrophobia.

The FMC Foundation needs your help this Christmas to purchase special goggles for the FMC MRI unit which enable children to watch and listen to DVDs and audio, and can be worn in an MRI scanner without interfering with the scan results. At other hospitals these goggles have been shown to successfully reduce the need for general anaesthetic in children aged 4 to 18 by 70 per cent. The goggles will also help reduce waiting times for paediatric patients needing a MRI examination as patients will no longer be limited to the time slots when anaesthetists are available.

At a cost of $45,000, FMC MRI Radiologists and Radiographers believe these goggles will significantly reduce the need for general anaesthetic and could also be used by adult patients with claustrophobia. Will you make a donation towards purchasing these MRI goggles and help make an MRI scan an enjoyable experience rather than a frightening one for a sick child at FMC? Donate online here, download a donation form and post it to FMC Foundation, Flinders Drive, Bedford Park SA 5042 or make a secure donation over the phone by calling (08) 8204 5216.