Patient safety investigative methods identify contributors to canine magnetic resonance imaging dermatologic thermal injuries in an academic hospital.

Reducing MRI radiofrequency energy output resolved ECG electrode thermal burns in dogs, even when output was within acceptable limits.

This study describes MRI-associated thermal burns at ECG electrode sites in 10 client-owned dogs following an MRI system upgrade at an academic veterinary hospital between April and December 2024. The affected dogs underwent MRI for brain imaging (n=5), spine imaging (n=4), or combined brain and spine imaging (n=1), with a median weight of 14.7 kg and median age of 9 years. Thermal injuries were classified as mild in 7 dogs and moderate to severe in 3 dogs. Skin biopsies performed in 2 dogs histologically confirmed second-degree burns, which represented the first published histologic confirmation of MRI-induced thermal injury in dogs. This finding was pivotal in redirecting the investigation toward MRI radiofrequency (RF) energy output as the underlying cause. A systematic, iterative patient safety investigation was conducted, involving multiple procedural reviews and interventional changes. Resolution of the injury pattern was ultimately achieved by reducing MRI RF energy output, even though output measurements had been within manufacturer-defined acceptable ranges. The study emphasizes the value of structured root cause analysis and patient safety frameworks in veterinary medicine to identify modifiable system-level contributors to patient harm. The authors highlight that standard RF safety thresholds may be insufficient to prevent thermal injury in some clinical scenarios, and that proactive safety investigations are essential following equipment upgrades to prevent recurring adverse events.

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