Inconsistent MRI Practices for Pediatric Seizures Across Canada
⚠️ Infant dosing/safety: medication and diet decisions for infants require individualized medical guidance.
Source: Canadian Association of Radiologists journal = Journal l'Association canadienne des radiologistes
Summary
Researchers studied how pediatric hospitals in Canada use imaging methods, like MRI and CT scans, to evaluate children who have new-onset seizures. They surveyed radiologists from 16 major pediatric centers to understand the different practices regarding imaging protocols and the use of sedation during these procedures. Out of the centers surveyed, 15 responded, providing insight into their approaches to diagnosing seizures in children.
The study found that there is a lot of variation in how hospitals perform imaging for new-onset seizures. Only a small number of centers used specific MRI protocols designed for seizures, while many relied on general brain MRI techniques. Additionally, the use of sedation varied widely, with some hospitals using methods to help infants undergo MRI without sedation, like feeding and swaddling. Overall, the findings showed that practices differ significantly from one hospital to another.
This research highlights the need for consistent guidelines across Canada to improve the care of children with seizures. Standardizing imaging protocols could help reduce the use of sedation and ensure that all children receive the best possible evaluation. However, the study is limited to the responses from a small number of centers, and more research is needed to develop comprehensive guidelines that can be applied nationwide.
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