Objective        To determine the value of sleep deprivation (SD) in pediatric MRI sedation.       Methods        A total of 300 children (mean age 3.4 years

ranging from 1 to

<

7 years) who underwent MRI examination in our hospital from January 2013 to were re

cruited in this study. According to the duration of SD

the 300 children were divided into 4 groups

the without SD group

the short period (0.1 to

<

3.0 h)

the middle period (3.0 to

<

6.0 h) and the long period SD group (≥ 6.0 h). In addition

they were also divided into 3 groups of ages

in every 2 years for interval

that is

1- to 3-year-old group (group A)

3- to 5-year-old group (group B) and 5- to 7-year-old group (group C). The total successful rate were analyzed between the SD group and the without SD group

and among the groups of different ages.       Results        In 300 children

the total successful rate was 92.15% (223/242) for the children receiving sedation

and was 92.86% (91/98)

91.67% (66/72) and 91.67% (66/72) respectively for the 3 different age groups A

B and C

which were significantly higher than their corresponding without sedation (

Chi

-square

total

=17.622 7

Chi

-square

A

=77.041 7

Chi

-square

B

=52.408 5

Chi

-square

C

=47.684 9

P

<

0.01). Within each age group

the successful rate of MR examination was in an increasing trend with the extension of SD duration (

Chi

-square

A

=14.1678

P

=0.000 2

Chi

-square

B

=12.388 6

P

=0.006 2

Chi

-square

C

=10.526 9

P

=0.014 6).       Conclusion        SD enhances the sedation in the children undergoing MRI

and will effectively improve the successful rate of examination when is combined with routine drug sedation.