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The Challenge of Imaging in the Critical Care Environment

Neuroimaging in intensive care units (ICU) is essential for diagnosing potential toxic-metabolic or structural brain injuries.

However, transporting an ICU patient for neuroimaging involves potential risks and costs. Numerous studies have indicated a prevalence of adverse events during patient transport, with rates ranging from 22% to 79%. The risks include adverse events due to the physicality of transport, environmental changes, and repositioning of monitoring equipment. These interruptions can lead to treatment delays, disrupt critical care, and result in issues such as deterioration of respiratory function after returning from transport—extending ICU stays, and potentially resulting in worse long-term outcomes¹.

Despite its inherent challenges, neuroimaging remains a crucial part of care for neurocritical patients. Transporting patients for conventional high-field MR imaging is time-consuming, costly, and laden with multiple risks, such as physical separation between the patient and nurse, posing a potential delay in case of an emergency¹.

While the risks associated with transport need to be carefully considered, there is also a downside to delays in obtaining conventional high-field MR imaging that can impact patient outcomes negatively, especially in brain injury cases. Hospital turnaround times for ICU imaging results vary widely, but logistical and clinical challenges often add hours to this process¹.

Sources

1. McLean B, Thompson D. MRI and the Critical Care Patient: Clinical, Operational, and Financial Challenges. Crit Care Res Pract. 2023;2023:2772181. Published 2023 Jun 6. doi:10.1155/2023/2772181