MR Enterography is an imaging exam that will help your physician see detailed images of the small intestine and is commonly used to evaluate conditions such as Crohn's disease, small bowel tumors, and other gastrointestinal disorders. This non-invasive exam visualizes the small intestine's structure and any abnormalities, often by measuring the thickness of the bowel wall.
What to expect on the day of the exam
On the day of your MRI Enterography, you may need to arrive a couple hours early for your oral prep. The MRI scan itself can last from 45 minutes to an hour, but the imaging department may ask you to drink an oral prep an hour or so before imaging.
Why is oral preparation necessary?
The small intestine is 23 feet long and when empty of food and fluid it appears as a deflated balloon when imaged. For better visualization, physicians need to inflate the small bowel and patients may be instructed to drink up to 1500mL (6 cups) of an oral prep between 1 - 2 hours to distend the bowel loops. The volume of oral prep you may be instructed to drink will be determined by your physician.
Your oral prep might be a flavored beverage that contains sugar alcohols such as sorbitol and mannitol or a barium sulfate suspension that also contains sorbitol. The intestines do not easily absorb these sugar alcohols. When ingested, fluids such as water are absorbed by the body, sent to the kidneys, and excreted as urine before it can reach the terminal ileum. This leaves the small bowel poorly distended, not unlike a deflated balloon. The sugar alcohols of the oral prep will help the small bowel to retain fluids and remain fully distended for the imaging exam.
Without adequate distension, the images your physician reads may be less accurate, potentially leading to a misdiagnosis or the need for additional imaging.
What to expect during the exam
The MRI scan itself typically takes about 45 minutes to an hour. You will lie on a movable table that slides into the MRI machine during the procedure. It is crucial to remain as still as possible during the scan to avoid any motion blur on the images. The machine may make loud thumping or tapping noises, but you will be given earplugs or headphones to help minimize the sound.
After the Exam
Once imaging is complete you will be able to resume your normal activities, but be aware that some patients experience limited diarrhea after exam. If this side-effect persists beyond 24 hours or if any time you feel uncomfortable, contact your physician.
Jonathan McCullough
Product Manager
