Ingestion of Strong Magnets is a TIME CRITICAL EMERGENCY
(Multiple Magnets OR a single Magnet and Metallic Objects)
Strong magnets (such as Neodymium)
- Now common place around the house
- From; fridge magnets to toys and peicings
Ingested:
- Intestinal injury can occur within 8-24 hours
- However, symptoms may take weeks to develop
- Symptomatic patients are a SURGICAL emergency
Detection:
- Use X-Ray (NOT metal detectors)
- May require AP and lateral images to see how many