Setting Up an Intraoperative MRI Suite: Our Experience

Keywords

IOMRI - intracranial lesions - resurgery

Introduction: The advent of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (IOMRI) represents a substantial improvement in ensuring complete removal of intracranial lesions but poses specific challenges to the neurosurgical OT team.

Methodology/Description: This observational study was conducted to assess our learning curve of resource utilization and conduct of 3T-IOMRI at our hospital for the first month. Every time we performed an IOMRI, we collected data and noted mistakes and processes we could improve next time. Data collected included time required to move patients into the MRI room and back to OT, number of personnel required, changes made to our checklist, and standard operating procedures for equipment utilization and patient transfer. We also collected data regarding number of patients with residue who underwent resurgery, quality of scans, and surgeon satisfaction.

Results: Personnel involved in the IOMRI theater were trained for a week before setting up the unit and mock drills performed. In a period of 1 month, 21 scans were performed, out of which 11 patients had residue and 9 underwent resurgery. The image quality was rated as good in 7 patients and satisfactory in 11patients. Personnel required to shift the patients into the MRI were reduced with 12 initially to 4 later. We were also able to reduce the time taken to shift the patients into the MRI room and back substantially by continuous training of personnel and remodifying our protocols (four times).

Conclusion: Setting up an IOMRI involves challenges. Institute-based checklists, protocols, and data recording of events help prevent untoward incidences and improve resources utilization.

• References

• 1 Seifert V. Intraoperative MRI in neurosurgery: technical overkill or the future of brain surgery?. Neurol India 2003; 51 (03) 329-332