I left the oral surgeon's office with a prescription for an MRI of my head and neck. "How long will this take?" I asked. "About half an hour. You know, they slide you into the MRI tube but you will have musical earphones on to blot out the clanging. No pain, just a little noise and it will be over in no time." I remembered this casual description when it was all over and concluded that the dentist had never had an MRI.
As I was positioned supine on the sliding table for my trip into the MRI tube, the musical earphones were placed on my ears to protect against the clanging of the magnet. My head was secured in a cage-like contraption. I was told to keep my arms at my side and my eyes closed. "We will be in the next room," the technician said. "But you will be able to hear us and we will let you know what is happening throughout the procedure. The music should help."
Slowly the table inched into the tube and when it stopped only my torso and legs were outside the MRI machine. The music reminded me of the tune that was playing the last time I had a root canal procedure. I strained to keep my eyes closed as the first clanging sounds began, drowning out the music. After the first round of clanging, the table inched forward a bit and I breathed a sign of relief. The technician announced that the clanging would continue through the second round. That, however, was only the beginning. The clanging and the inching went on for 30 minutes, seeming more like 30 hours. My most anxious moment came when I opened my eyes while still in the tube. A light shone no more than 3 inches from the bridge of my nose. My anxiety was palpable as I struggle to deep-breathe and create pleasant images in my mind. The technicians kept me informed throughout the procedure and highly praised my "calm" when I finally emerged from the tube.
In 1991, the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center conducted a study to determine which of a variety of aromas might be useful in alleviating the anxiety associated with the claustrophobic experience during MRI procedures. Researchers reported that 63% of patients exposed to the scent of vanilla during the MRI reported feeling less claustrophobic and anxious than the control group.1 While such a finding may be preliminary and need further replication, there is no doubt that using pleasant aromas in the MRI machine makes much more sense than using music, especially since the clanging of the MRI obliterates all sounds, including the music. Pleasant aromas are much more likely to have a calming effect, particularly if the patient has an array of aromas from which to chose. Considering the finding that 1% to 10% of patients exhibit panic and claustrophobic responses during an MRI and that many such diagnostic studies are aborted because of such reactions, it would be well to continue research into any modalities that might assist patients in managing diagnostic-related anxiety.2 Should I ever need another MRI, I will pack my own essential oils or lavender or vanilla to sprinkle on my shirt before entering the tube.
Gloria F. Donnelly, PhD, RN, FAAN
Editor-in-Chief
References