SHARES
“It was a horrible experience. I had my first MRI before my surgery. The tunnel was way smaller than I had expected. I felt trapped and anxious lying inside. My heart raced fast, and I can’t breathe. Moreover the machine was very noisy and every passing minute felt like forever. I was clenching my fists so tight, I had cold sweats all over me.” Bella, 34, is afraid of being trapped in enclosed space.
In brief, for Bella the “closed” MRI scanner, a coffin like, small tunnel with a ceiling just centimetres above your face, has filled her with dread and fear. The doctor told her she has claustrophobia and was suffering from a panic attack.
MRI Fear & Over-sized Body: Open MRI is an option
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a widely used imaging technique for finding and confirming medical diseases. However, people with anxiety, panic attack and claustrophobia (afraid of enclosed space), can find it very distressing. Also, it may not be suitable for very large sized patients.
Many patients who are unable to go through a traditional MRI scan can have some success in an Open MRI scanner. In an Open MRI system, the imaging process can be a lot more comfortable and suitable for those who are uncomfortable or unable to be scanner in a closed system
Conventional Closed MRI vs Open MRI
1. Closed MRI
MRI uses radio-frequency (RF) waves to interact with magnetic field to produce images of the internal body parts. In a closed MRI system, the magnetic field is created by passing a current through superconducting wires that are wound around a cylinder. Therefore one has to lie still in a magnetic cylinder for about 30 minutes to an hour as any movement can cause blurring of the images resulting in repeat scans that will further increase the scanning time.
On the upside, , these closed MRI system are four or five times more powerful compared to open MRI scanners, in terms of their magnetic field strength and will generally produce higher resolution images versus Open MRIs. It is therefore ideal for the imaging of very small parts and also certain conditions that requires very fine detail.
2. Open MRI
On the other hand, in an open MRI system, the magnetic field is created by combining two flat disks of permanent magnetic material fastened together to create a gap that you can lie in between. Both of your sides are therefore clear and spacious, giving you a more spacious and comfortable environment. The whole imaging process is similar to conventional closed MRI except that it may take a slightly longer time to complete the scan to compensate for the lower magnetic field strength.
Advantages of Open MRI
1. Lower Cost MRI Scans
As a result of the lower system cost and its low operating costs, Open MRI scans are considerably less expensive. In Singapore, the charges typically range from $450 to $600, compared to the $800 to $1,000 that you can expect to pay for a high-field closed MRI scan.
2. More space! A solution for claustrophobia
If you have claustrophobia (fear of being trapped in enclosed space), having a MRI can make you anxious and even give you a panic attack. You may feel breathless with choking sensation, have cold sweats, trembling hands and racing heartbeat. Next, this sense of fear can quickly spiral down into a dreadful feeling of dying and losing control of yourself. It is extremely distressing for you to lie still for an hour in terror. Ordinarily, in conventional MRI, the solution would be drugs that put you to sleep (sedative) or make you relax (anxiolytics). With open MRI, it is a possible for you to get an MRI scan and without having to feel anxious and worried to the extent that you will require drugs to calm you down.
3. Oversized patient can fit in
The conventional MRI machine has a fixed tunnel size. Thus. this may not fit a person with huge body size. For these patients, there are MRI machines with bigger tunnel if available. However if unavailable, doctors would have to depend on other less suitable imaging techniques to diagnose illness and to decide on treatment plan. Yet, open MRI could be an alternative and far surpasses conventional MRIs in term of space and comfort.
4. Children can feel calmer
Children may suffer from separation anxiety when their parents are not in sight. So, they may be crying and reluctant to enter the MRI tunnel. Staying still for them becomes a big challenge and MRI scan repeats may be necessary should the child move during the scan. Sometimes, for the very restless child, the solution is to put your child to sleep (using anaethesia). However there may be certain health risks associated with this.
In certain situations, open MRI scans may be a more viable alternative. For instance, it is possible to arrange for you to be with your child, even hold his/her hand during the scan. It is very re-assuring for your child to be able to see, hear and feel your presence by their side throughout the scan. More importantly, it will be a lot less frightening for a child to be able to experience the openness of the machine during the scan.
Conclusion
Besides a lower cost option, Open MRI also provides a viable option for patients who are uncomfortable with small, confined spaces. Talk to your doctor to find out if open MRI is for you and available in your area.
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References:
1. Open MRI [Internet]. Suburban Imaging. 2019. [Available from: https://subrad.com/services/open-mri/; last accessed on 2019 Jul 6]
2. Open MRI vs closed MRI: what is the difference and which one is best suited for you? [Internet] Independent Imaging. 2019. [Available from: https://www.independentimaging.com/open-mri-vs-closed-mri-difference-one-best-suited/; accessed on 2019 Jul 6]
by Chang Xian
View all articles by Chang Xian.
