Currently, a very popular type of diagnosis is magnetic resonance imaging. This survey method has gained high popularity for its accuracy and clarity. In many cases, conducting such an examination requires some preparation. For example, not every patient knows whether it is possible to eat before an MRI.
About the procedure
This diagnostic procedure is a medical imaging method that allows you to assess the state of structures located inside the body. This technique is based on fixing the response of hydrogen nuclei to the effects of radiation emitted by the apparatus.
Currently, this procedure is considered one of the safest due to the fact that ionizing radiation is not used in the visualization process. For this reason, magnetic resonance imaging is widespread and is very popular among doctors and patients.
Varieties of research
Each patient who is prescribed this procedure is interested in whether it is possible to eat before an MRI. In order to answer this question, it is first necessary to determine which version of magnetic resonance imaging will be performed. Today, specialists are able to examine the following structures using this technique:
- joints
- brain;
- abdominal organs;
- cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral spine;
- neck;
- adrenal glands;
- pelvic organs.
About whether it is possible to eat before examining the brain, neck, adrenal glands, lumbar, sacral, cervical spine, joints, one can definitely answer positively.
Another situation arises in those cases if the abdominal organs are examined. Before the procedure, all patients are informed whether it is possible to have this type of MRI. Eating food on the eve of such an examination is definitely not worth it at least 12 hours before it.
About contrasting
In some cases, magnetic resonance imaging should be accompanied by the introduction of a special contrast agent. In such situations, you should definitely clarify whether a specialist can have an MRI before. The fact is that such an examination using a contrast agent will require considerable cash costs. Obtaining inaccurate data in this case will not only be unpleasant, but also financially expensive. In the vast majority of cases, before conducting an MRI with contrast, it is recommended not to eat any food for 4 hours.
About drinks
It is important to understand not only whether it is possible to have an MRI of the brain and other organs, but also whether it will not harm taking certain drinks in advance of this complex procedure. It is currently not recommended to drink alcoholic beverages during the day. Otherwise, the results of the study may be distorted. In addition, in a state of intoxication, the patient is simply not allowed to complex and expensive diagnostic equipment.
It is also believed that coffee should not be drunk before magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. Although to date, there is no reliable evidence that the use of this drink may in any way affect the results of this study.
Before an MRI of the abdominal organs, it is not recommended to consume both food and drinks. In this case, you can drink plain water 4 hours before the study.
About preparing for abdominal MRI
This study stands apart from others. This is due to the fact that in the process of carrying out this diagnostic technique, it is the gastrointestinal tract that is examined, the presence of food masses in which can distort the research data.
Is it possible to eat before an MRI of the abdominal cavity, should be told to each patient by his attending physician, who sent this examination option. If a person signs up for this study on his own, then all the necessary information on the preparation is brought to him by a medical registrar recording on magnetic resonance imaging.
Before conducting this type of study, you need to refrain from eating at least 12 hours. In this case, you can use plain water 4 hours before an MRI.
Also, carrying out this diagnostic procedure on the intestine will require not only abstinence from eating food for 12 hours, but also enemas to effectively empty. If this is not done, it is likely that the results of the diagnostic study will be distorted due to the presence of feces in the intestinal cavity.
The main contraindications
Doctors carrying out this complex study are not so much concerned with the question of whether it is possible to eat before an MRI, as the patient has contraindications to this examination. However, they can be absolute and relative. The first group includes those that exclude magnetic resonance imaging. With relative contraindications, the examination is possible if the patient's benefit is higher than the potential harm. Absolute contraindications are:
- The presence of large metal implants in patients (for example, metal plates on bones after fractures).
- The presence of electronic implants of the middle ear.
- The presence of a pacemaker in the patient (exposure to MRI may interfere with his work).
- Too much body weight of the patient or significant volumes that do not allow him to fit inside the device. Depending on the MRI device, these limitations may vary. Most often we are talking about weight of 120 kg or more, as well as the diameter of the widest part of the patient more than 0.7 m (the exception is brain MRI).
- The presence of established hemostatic clips on the vessels of the brain.
Among the relative contraindications, the following are distinguished:
- Fear of confined space.
- Pregnancy in the 1st trimester.
- Severe and extremely difficult general condition of the patient.
- The presence of mental disorders in the acute stage.
- Inability to stay without movement for a long time (for example, young children or severe pain in adults). This contraindication is eliminated by introducing the patient into anesthesia.
Most often, the presence of relative contraindications does not become an obstacle to the examination.
About pelvic MRI
Many are interested in whether it is possible to have an pelvic MRI, because the sigmoid and rectum pass in this area. Eating before this study is not prohibited 4 hours before the study. Moreover, for 12 hours it is not recommended to use products that enhance gas formation. Among them:
- legumes;
- carbonated drinks;
- sweets;
- fresh bakery.
If you use a large amount of these products, there is a possibility of distortion of the results.
Method cost
Is it possible to eat before an MRI of the brain is not the only question that interests patients. The cost of this diagnostic technique is also a very important point. Currently, the price of this service is very different depending on the area of study and the specific medical center where this procedure is carried out.
Currently, the cost of this service ranges from 2500 to 15000 rubles. Least of all will you have to pay for brain MRI. Diagnostic procedures worth more than 10,000 rubles involve the use of a contrast medium.