Tuesday, September 23, 2014

"Kitten Scanner" Used At Arkansas Children's Hospital To Ease Fear Of MRIs

9/23/2014

Where's the outrage?

LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Today 8-year-old Evan Tracy will get an MRI, but first he gets to learn how it works on what's called a Kitten Scanner.

It turns what can be a scary medical procedure into child's play.

Evan picks a "patient" which is a plastic toy and puts it on the toy scanner.

Then, a video plays to explain what happens and how the scan works.

Evan said, "That you got to be still and not to be afraid."

Evan's now ready for the real MRI.

Medical staff at Arkansas Children's Hospital say while the Kitten Scanner is a fun toy, it serves a serious purpose.

Mandy Fenwick, with Arkansas Children's Hospital, said, "So they know exactly what you're expecting the whole process."

It helps to calm the child's nerves because, while painless, some MRI scans last up to two hours.

Fenwick said, "And I have kids say well I can be still like Robert the Robot."

Radiology Director Karen Craig says the Kitten Scanner reduces the need of sedation in 43% of MRI and CT scan patients, which makes the procedure safer.

Craig said, "I think a piece of it is just the fear of the unknown with the kids, they do much better when they sort of know what to expect."

So playing make-believe helps the reality of the procedure become a little less scary.

The Kitten Scanner is most effective for children between the ages of four and ten-years-old.

source

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