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Anesthesia with MRI

Within 30 days of your exam:

A chest x-ray may be required within 30 days prior to date of exam.

EKG done within 30 days prior to date of exam.

H & P (history and physical) done within 30 days prior to exam.

CBC done within 14 days of date of exam.

Patient must also bring their list of medications.

Eating and drinking instructions:

For Adults:

For Pediatric patients:

Please do not give patient solid food/formula for 6 hours prior to the MRI.

Please do not give patient breast milk for up to 4 hours prior to the MRI.

Please do not give patient clear liquids for up to 3 hours prior to the exam (Pedialyte, clear broth, apple juice, and D5W are considered clear liquids).

Please do not give patient water for up to 2 hours prior to the exam.

Please do not allow patient to eat or drink anything for 2 hours prior to the MRI.

Before Arriving for Your Exam

You will need to arrange for someone to drive you home.

Dress in comfortable clothing that does not have metal zippers, buttons or snaps.

Please do not wear barrettes, hairpins, jewelry, or a watch. These items can affect the way the magnet works.

Please leave all valuables at home.

Be sure to bring your list of medications and above mentioned test results.

Upon Arrival:

Please make your travel plans carefully to ensure that you arrive on time. If you are late, the MRI may have to be rescheduled or delayed. Every effort will be made to keep MRI exams on time.

Please arrive no later than one hour before the exam time.

You must tell the technologist, radiology nurse, and/or imaging physician of any allergies you may have, and if you are pregnant or are nursing.

Before the Exam Begins:

After you fill out a screening form, a nurse will explain the exam, answer your questions and have you change into a hospital gown.

You will be asked to fill out a questionnaire which will determine if an MRI is safe for you. People with various implants (e.g., pacemaker, electronic, metallic) or with metal in their bodies may have difficulty with an MRI-which utilizes a strong magnetic field. The imaging physician needs to be informed of any of these potential problems.

During the exam:

You will lie on the scanning table.

Coils (special devices to improve image quality) may be placed around the body part being scanned.

The scanning table will slide into the magnet.

In some cases, the imaging physician requests a contrast agent (dye) to improve the quality of the images. The dye is injected into a vein in the arm, and may cause a cool sensation.

The technologist is always able to see and hear you during the exam.

After your Exam

Your films will be examined by an imaging physician and a report sent to your doctor. Your doctor will review the results with you.

To request copies of your pictures on a CD-Rom, call (310) 423-8000. To request a copy of your report, call (310) 423-8000.

Parking Information

Valet parking is available in front of the Imaging center from 7:30am-5:00pm.

For self parking, please enter parking lot P4, located at the corner of San Vicente Blvd. and 3rd Street. The entrance is on San Vicente Blvd.

If you are arriving after 5:00pm, please park in parking lot P1, located off of George Burns Rd. between Beverly Blvd. and Alden Dr. The entrance is off of George Burns Rd.

Partially validated parking at a cost of $4.00 is provided to our imaging patients for valet and self parking in the lots mentioned above.

Please Note: We do not validate for parking lots in the Medical Office Towers located at 8631 and 8635 W. 3rd St.