What is the primary concern when scanning patients with aneurysm clips?

The primary concern when scanning patients with aneurysm clips is the clip safety status. Aneurysm clips are used to secure and occlude blood vessels in the brain during surgical procedures. These clips can be made from various materials, including magnetic materials. If the clips are not specifically designed to be MRI-safe or MRI-conditional, there is a risk that they may cause significant complications during the imaging process, such as movement or heating which could lead to serious injury.

Understanding the safety status of these clips is crucial to ensure that they do not pose a risk to the patient during an MRI. It is essential for healthcare providers to verify whether the specific type of clip used in the patient's procedure is compatible with MRI, to avoid compromising patient safety while obtaining diagnostic images. This concern far outweighs factors like patient comfort or the general magnetic interference that may occur; ensuring the clips are safe during MRI is a critical part of evaluating the risks before proceeding with the scan.