Misplaced Devices in the Chest, Abdomen, and Pelvis: Part II

Taljanovic, Mihra S.; Hunter, Tim B.; Freundlich, Irwin M.; Mar, Winnie A.; Smyth, Stephen H.; O’Brien, Michael J.

doi:10.1053/j.sult.2006.01.003

« Previous Next »Seminars in Ultrasound, CT and MRI
Volume 27, Issue 2 , Pages 98-110, April 2006

Misplaced Devices in the Chest, Abdomen, and Pelvis: Part II

Mihra S. Taljanovic, MD, MA
- Departments of Radiology and Orthopaedic Surgery, Musculoskeletal Imaging Section, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ
- Address reprint requests to Mihra S. Taljanovic, MD, MA, Department of Radiology, Musculoskeletal Imaging Section, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Room 1343, Tucson, AZ 85724-5067; Phone: 520-626-6794; Fax: 520-626-2955
Tim B. Hunter, MD
- Department of Radiology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ
Irwin M. Freundlich, MD
- Department of Thoracic Radiology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ
Winnie A. Mar, MD
- Department of Radiology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ
Stephen H. Smyth, MD
- Department of Radiology, Section of Vascular/Interventional Radiology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ
Michael J. O’Brien, MD
- Department of Clinical Radiology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ

Numerous medical devices are used in the chest and fewer in the abdomen and pelvis. They are frequently seen on various radiological studies in daily practice. Knowing the specific name of the device is not important. However, knowing the proper positioning and function of the device is necessary. It is a duty of the reporting radiologist to recognize the malpositioning or breakage of a medical device and to inform the responsible physician promptly, since these complications can have undesirable consequences and sometimes a fatal outcome.