- Does the patient have to be prepared for the examination?
- How is the procedure performed?
- Is it necessary to use a contrast agent?
For the optimum performance, the bladder should not be completely empty, but you should not feel the urge to urinate or defecate. In this case, the bladder and bowel must be vacated.
Otherwise, general guidelines for MRI examination apply.
The radiolographer will place you in the appropriate position on the examination table and install a suitable coil. You will be provided with earphones for hearing protection as loud noises are generated during the investigation. You will enter the MRI scanner where you will stay for the duration of the process. You will hold a bell in your hand to use it if any problems occur during the procedure to alert the radiographer.
It is of particular importance that you remain completely still during the investigation as the movements impair the image quality!
If major artifacts due to the bowel movement as a consequence of vigorous peristalsis are present, you will receive a remedy to relax the intestinal wall.
The examination takes about 45 minutes.
A contrast agent is always used in such investigations.