Minimising the Use of Anaesthesia / Sedation in Paediatric Imaging and Radiotherapy: The Role of Play Therapy and Patient Education

Imaging is being increasingly used in paediatrics to aid diagnosis and monitor treatment (Kilbaugh et al., 2010). Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in particular is the modality of choice for neurological concerns and is becoming more widely used for thoracic and abdominal imaging (Edwards and Arthurs, 2011). Due to the difficulties of gaining children’s compliance and co-operation in both Computerised Tomography (CT) and MRI, clinicians have often resorted to sedation and general anaesthesia (Anastos, 2007, Bates et al., 2010, Netzke-Doyle, 2010, Hartman et al., 2009, Hansen, 2009, Raschle et al., 2009, Edwards and Arthurs, 2011, de Bie et al., 2010, Khan et al., 2007, Haeberli et al., 2008, Filin et al., 2009, Kilbaugh et al., 2010, Lawson, 2008, Pressdee et al., 1997). Sedation has been referred to as