UC Davis

Purpose

The management of foreign body ingestion proves to be a challenge. Magnets pose a unique set of risks when ingested due to their attractive forces and subsequent risk of adherence, pressure necrosis, and perforation complications. Radiographs only provide a limited snapshot in the setting of multiple magnet ingestion when the risk of complication is highest. We hypothesize that abdominal ultrasound (US) has the potential to supplement radiographs in assessing ingested magnets by determining the presence of bowel loop entrapment and of any extraluminal fluid.

Methods

We recreated various scenarios of magnet configurations using animal cadaveric bowel models. X-ray and US images were obtained in various bowel-magnet orientations.

Results

We identified several key US features to suggest bowel wall tethering. These include direct visualization of bowel wall entrapment between magnets (what we term the "dangerous V sign"), anti-dependent positions of the magnets, and inability to separate loops of bowel with compression.

Conclusion

These findings could potentially provide valuable information when directing the urgency of intervention in foreign body ingestion. Ultrasound may supplement and improve the current guidelines in management of magnet ingestion.