Let's learn about the MRI scan performed during the operation (Intraoperative MRI - iMRI)!

Imagine that your friend is having an operation to remove a tumor in a very complex part of his brain. The doctors are very careful in performing the operation. But how do they know for sure whether the tumor has been completely removed or if there is a small piece left? After the operation, if you do a scan again a few days later, you can know for sure. If there is even a small piece left, you will have to do another operation, right? This special technology that we are talking about today is used as a solution to such problems.

Simply put, what is iMRI?

The full name for iMRI is Intraoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging . "Intraoperative" means "during surgery." This means that it is an MRI scan that is done while surgery is being performed . This allows your surgical team to see the organs, tissues, and other things inside your body very clearly while the operation is being performed.

Imagine a doctor removing a tumor from the brain. He can do an MRI scan right after the tumor is removed, before the operation is finished, to see, "Did I remove all of the tumor? Or are there still small pieces left?" If the scan shows that there is a small piece left, he can remove that part right away.

What is the difference between a regular MRI and an iMRI?

The main and only difference between the two is the time it takes to do it .

• A regular MRI: This is done to diagnose a disease or to plan for surgery. You go into an MRI machine as usual and have this scan.
• An iMRI: This is done while a surgery is being performed , right inside the operating theater.

Simply put, one is done before an operation, and the other is done during the operation itself.

Why do doctors use this technology during an operation?

Some surgeries, especially brain surgeries, are very complex. Even a millimeter difference can have a big impact. A doctor needs a clearer, more vivid image during the operation than what they can see with their own eyes or through a microscope. That's when the value of iMRI becomes clear.

Here are some of the most common uses of iMRI technology:

How does this iMRI machine work?

An MRI scan is a machine that uses magnets and radio waves to take pictures of the inside of the body. That's what happens in an iMRI. You won't feel it because you're under anesthesia and often completely unconscious.

Here's how it works, simply put:

More than half of our bodies are made up of water. Water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Inside this hydrogen atom is a particle called a proton . These protons have an electrical charge, and they are also spinning.

The MRI machine sends a strong magnetic field through your body. What happens is that all these protons in your body line up in the same direction, like a compass needle pointing north.

Then, the MRI machine sends a wave of radio waves through this magnetic field. This is like the shutter of a camera taking a picture. These radio waves momentarily disrupt the alignment of the protons. When the radio waves stop, the protons return to their original alignment. This change is picked up by a scanner in the machine. The data is sent to a computer, which creates a very clear three-dimensional (3D) image.

How do I prepare for an iMRI?

Actually, you don't need to prepare for an iMRI because it happens during your surgery. All you need to do is prepare for your surgery properly. Follow your doctor's instructions exactly as they'll tell you.

You will be under anesthesia during the procedure, so you will likely be asleep. There will be some noise when the MRI machine is working, but you will not feel it because of the anesthesia. Sometimes, there are awake procedures. In such cases, the medical team will prepare you for the procedure and make sure you are comfortable during the scan.

Things you should definitely tell your doctor before surgery:

• That is, if you are pregnant .
• If you have anything metallic implanted in your body. For example, a pacemaker, metal plates placed inside the body, artificial joints, etc. The strong magnets in the MRI can cause these to move or malfunction. This is dangerous. Therefore, if you are informed about this in advance, the medical team will take the necessary safety measures.
• Before surgery, you must remove all metal objects from your body, such as jewelry, earrings, hairpins, and metal wires in your underwear .

What are the advantages of an iMRI?

There are several key advantages to using iMRI technology.

• Very clear images: The area of ​​the body being operated on can be seen very clearly and in detail.
• Real-time information: These images can be viewed during the surgery, allowing decisions to be made without delay.
• Assessing changes: You can see immediately how the area has changed during surgery (e.g. after removing a tumor).
• Preventing complications: These clear images can greatly reduce the complications that may occur after surgery.
• Non-radioactive: MRI technology does not use radiation like X-rays or CT scans, so it does not harm the body.

The doctor can see these results within seconds of the scan, allowing him to proceed to the next step of the surgery without any delay.