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

ABSTRACT 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.