The Use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Fiberoptic Intracranial Pressure Monitors

Abstract

Department of Anesthesiology; Mayo Clinic; Rochester, Minnesota;wass.thomas@mayo.eduIn Reply:-We are grateful for Dr. Prall's interest in our case report [1]and appreciate the opportunity to respond to his comments.In his letter, Dr. Prall states “the flexible catheter tip extends only 0.5 mm beyond the rigid cranial bolt, when applied according to the manufacturer's guidelines.” However, there is a 10- to 20-fold discrepancy between the manufacturer's (Camino Laboratories) and Dr. Prall's claims. Specifically, placement of the fiberoptic intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor-according to the insertion method suggested by the manufacturer-should result in the catheter tip being 0.5 to 1.0 cm (not 0.5 mm, as cited by Dr. Prall) beyond the end of the rigid bolt. Nonetheless, as alluded to by Dr. Prall, the risk of catheter movement in a magnetic field should diminish as the length of catheter protruding into the brain decreases.Of greater concern, the package insert clearly indicates that the ICP monitor may be inserted deeper into the brain at the discretion of the surgeon. Specifically, the package insert states, “The surgeon may easily vary the insertion depth by locating his fingers at the proper cm mark … For example, placing the fingers at 5.5 cm will locate the tip of the catheter 1 cm beyond the end of the bolt, into the parenchyma”(OLM Intracranial Pressure Monitoring Kit, Camino, Model 110-4B). In this manner, it is possible to insert the catheter tip up to 4 cm (beyond the bolt) into the parenchyma of the brain. At this depth, it may be possible for the ferromagnetic catheter tip to move and cause parenchymal injury when exposed to strong magnetic fields (e.g., 1.5 Tesla, as cited in our case report). In fact, we are installing a magnetic resonance (MR) imager with a field strength of 3.0 Tesla. Therefore, in the setting of the new scanner, we anticipate that the results of our laboratory investigation would substantially underestimate the likelihood of patient injury during MR imaging.Regarding the potential for thermal injury, our point is as follows: the antenna-like effect of ferromagnetic and nonferromagnetic metals (e.g., aluminum or copper) is most likely to occur when loops with a circumference of approximately one quarter the radiofrequency wavelength are formed. This set of circumstances creates an environment in which radiofrequency energy may be absorbed by the metallic biomedical device, which, in turn, may result in heating of the device and injury to adjacent tissues. The length of the ICP catheter was 64 cm, which met the one-quarter wavelength criteria. However, it deserves mention that this measurement was the total length (i.e., intracranial plus extracranial segments). The fact of the matter is neither the intracranial nor the extracranial segment of this fiberoptic monitoring catheter is long enough to result in loops fulfilling this criteria. Therefore, we are not surprised by Dr. Prall's observations in his unpublished data.Lastly, the manufacturer is under no obligation to prove the safety of their ICP monitor when exposed to MR imaging. Dr. Prall cites clinical experience and unpublished data, demonstrating the lack of morbidity associated with the use of this catheter during MR imaging at his institution. However, the scientific literature is devoid of this information.Robert E. Grady, M.D.C. Thomas Wass, M.D.Department of Anesthesiology; Mayo Clinic; Rochester, Minnesota;wass.thomas@mayo.edu(Accepted for publication May 11, 1998.)