Magnetic Resonance Angiogram (MRA): How To Prepare

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How To Prepare

Before a magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA), tell your doctor and the MRI technologist if you:

• Are allergic to any medicines. The contrast material used for MRA does not contain iodine. If you know that you are allergic to the contrast material used for MRA, tell your doctor before having another test.
• Are or might be pregnant.
• Have a pacemaker, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), artificial limb, any metal pins or metal parts in your body (especially in your eyes), metal heart valves, metal clips in your brain, metal implants in your ear, tattooed eyeliner, or any other implanted or prosthetic medical device (such as a medicine infusion pump). Also, tell your doctor if you have worked around metal or if you have recently had angioplasty with a stent. In some cases you may not be able to have the MRI test.
• Have an intrauterine device (IUD) in place. An IUD may prevent you from having the MRA test done.
• Become very nervous in small spaces. You need to lie very still inside the MRI machine, so you may need to have the test done with open MRI equipment. It is not as confining as standard MRI machines. You may need medicine to help you relax. Some blood vessels may not be seen clearly with an open MRI scanner.
• Have any other health conditions, such as kidney problems or sickle cell anemia, that may prevent you from having an MRA using contrast material.
• Wear any medicine patches. The MRI may cause a burn at the patch site.

For some abdominal MRI tests, you may be asked to not eat or drink before the test.

You may need to arrange for someone to drive you home after the test, if you are given a medicine (sedative) to help you relax.

If you are having blood flow studies, do not use tobacco products, eat or drink (including alcohol or caffeinated beverages) for 2 hours before the test. Do not take iron supplements on the day of the test.

If you are breast-feeding and contrast material is used during the test, give your baby formula for 1 to 2 days after the procedure until the contrast material has passed from your body.

You may need to sign a consent form that says you understand the risks of an abdominal MRI and agree to have the test done. Talk to your health professional about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will indicate. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form (What is a PDF document?) .

Last updated:	July 09, 2008
Author:	Robin Parks, MS
Reviewed By:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine, George Philippides, MD - Cardiology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Tracy Landauer