Patient should not have anything to eat or drink for 4 hours prior to exam. Patients should arrive 2 hours prior to exam and will receive Contrast to drink over the 2 hour wait time.

• Purse, wallet, money clip, credit cards, cards with magnetic strips
• Electronic devices such as beepers or cell phones
• Hearing aids
• Metal jewelry, watches
• Pens, paper clips, keys, coins
• Hair barrettes, hairpins
• Any article of clothing that has a metal zipper, buttons, snaps, hooks, underwires, or metal threads
• Shoes, belt buckles, safety pins

Before the MRI procedure, you will be asked to fill out a screening form asking about anything that might create a health risk or interfere with imaging. You will also undergo an interview by a member of the MRI facility to ensure that you understand the questions on the form. Even if you have undergone an MRI procedure before at this or another facility, you will still be asked to complete an MRI screening form.

Examples of items or things that may create a health hazard or other problem during an MRI exam include:

• Pacemaker
• Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
• Neurostimulator
• Aneurysm clip
• Metal implant
• Implanted drug infusion device
• Foreign metal objects, especially if in or near the eye
• Shrapnel or bullet wounds
• Permanent cosmetics or tattoos
• Dentures/teeth with magnetic keepers
• Other implants that involve magnets
• Medication patch (i.e., transdermal patch) that contains metal foil

Check with the MRI technologist at the MRI center if you have questions or concerns about any implanted object or health condition that could impact the MRI procedure. This is particularly important if you have undergone surgery involving the brain, ear, eye, heart, or blood vessels.

Important Note: If you are pregnant or think that you could be pregnant, you must notify your physician and the radiologist or the MRI technologist at the MRI center prior to the MRI procedure.

24 HOURS BEFORE YOUR SCAN

 Eat a high protein, low carbohydrate diet. No caffeine (including decaffeinated products), sugar, chocolate, tobacco and strenuous activity or exercise 24 hours before your scan.

Acceptable Snacks: Hard Cheese, Turkey Roll-Ups, Mixed Nuts, Hummus and Celery Sticks, Hard Boiled Eggs

• No food or drink (other than water) for 6 hours before your scan. You may drink ONLY water up to the time of your scan. It must be plain, unflavored water, no tea, no coffee, no soda. Drink 24 to 30 ounces of water before your scan.
• No chewing gum, breath mints, cough drops, hard candies or anything containing sugar.
• Take your medications as prescribed by your physician. If you have been advised to take your medications with food, eat nothing more than a few soda crackers 6 hours before your scan.

• Diabetic patients who take ORAL medications should wait until the scan is completed.
• Subcutaneous insulin dependent diabetics should have their last injection 2 hours prior to the scan.

• If you are severely claustrophobic, experiencing anxiety or in pain, please ask your physician for medication. Take the medication prescribed by your physician 1 hour before the scan.
• For your comfort, wear loose-fitting clothing. The scanning room tends to be quite cold. You will not be required to remove any clothing. However, metal objects including underwire bras, jewelry and hair pins or clips will need to be removed before your scan.
• Please arrive 20 minutes before your scheduled appointment time, allow 2 hours for your scheduled appointment.
• What to expect during your scan will be explained to you by our technologist.
• If you must cancel or reschedule your appointment, please call our scheduling department at 561-955-4700, Monday thru Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, two days before your appointment.
• If you have been admitted to the hospital, please call our scheduling department.
• If you think you may be pregnant, please discuss with your physician and please call our scheduling department.
• You may resume your normal activity after your scan. However, as an extra precaution, please avoid contact with infants, children or anyone who is pregnant for 8 hours immediately following your scan.