Prevalence of and risk factors for failure of fetal magnetic resonance imaging due to maternal claustrophobia or malaise

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for failure of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to maternal claustrophobia or malaise.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included pregnant women who underwent fetal MRI for clinical indications or research purposes between January 2012 and December 2019 at a single center. One group included patients who completed the entire examination and the other group inlcuded patients who interrupted their MRI examination due to claustrophobia/malaise. We estimated the rate of MRI failure due to maternal claustrophobia/malaise and compared maternal and clinical variables between the two groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for claustrophobia/malaise during MRI examination in pregnancy.

Results: Among 3413 patients who agreed to undergo fetal MRI, the prevalence of failure because of claustrophobia or malaise was 2.1%. The rate of claustrophobia/malaise in patients who underwent MRI for a clinical indication was lower compared to that in patients who underwent MRI for research purposes only (0.6% (4/696) vs 2.4% (65/2678); P = 0.003). Fetal MRI performed for research purposes only (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.05 (95% CI, 0.01-0.48); P = 0.003), higher maternal age (aOR, 1.07 (95% CI, 1.02-1.12); P = 0.003) and later gestational age at the time of fetal MRI (aOR, 1.46 (95% CI, 1.16-2.04); P = 0.008) were independent risk factors for claustrophobia/malaise. Shorter fetal MRI duration (aOR, 0.77 (95% CI, 0.63-0.88); P = 0.001) was also associated with claustrophobia/malaise during the procedure. Body mass index, ethnic origin, multiple pregnancy, being parous and size of the magnetic bore were not associated with MRI failure due to claustrophobia/malaise.

Conclusion: The rate of fetal MRI failure due to claustrophobia or malaise was found to be low, particularly when the examination was performed for a clinical indication, and should not be considered a common problem in the pregnant population. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.