Fairytale heroes are now helping young patients at České Budějovice Hospital stay calm during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations. Specially created animated stories are designed to capture children’s attention and help them remain still throughout the scan.
This is essential for obtaining high-quality images while also reducing the likelihood that the examination will need to be repeated.
Since last year, the České Budějovice hospital has been using modern Philips magnetic resonance imaging devices, which allow the viewing of themed videos during examinations. The hospital has recently expanded this system to include stories featuring popular Disney characters. Children can choose, for example, Mickey and Minnie, Princess Ariel, or heroes from the Marvel and Star Wars worlds.
The stories were created specifically for the magnetic resonance environment. The plot is deliberately slow and the movement of the characters is concentrated mainly in the center of the screen so that the child does not have to move his head unnecessarily while watching. The ability to choose his own fairy-tale guide also gives him a greater sense of security in an unfamiliar environment. The pleasant atmosphere is completed by variable ambient lighting.
Magnetic resonance imaging can be challenging for young children, especially because they have to lie still for a certain period of time while the device makes loud and unusual sounds. We have therefore been trying to create conditions for our young patients to feel as comfortable as possible. The calmer the child is during the magnetic resonance imaging, the easier it is to obtain the high-quality images needed for diagnosis. Thanks to the innovative system, children can usually undergo the examination without the need for general anesthesia
MUDr. Markéta Brabcová, head of the Radiology Department.
“From the perspective of a large hospital, this may seem like a seemingly small thing, but such improvements can bring great benefits. In the case of pediatric patients, I am even more pleased ,” adds the hospital’s general director, MUDr. Ing. Michal Šnorek, Ph.D.
