Detection of aluminium ring pulls.
Ffion Davies · Emergency Medicine Journal · 1996
Detection of aluminium ring pulls EDITOR -I was interested in the article on hand held metal detector location of aluminium ring pulls by Ryan et al. ' The use of such detectors may be extended to include other metal containing foreign bodies, whether or not they are expected to be radio- opaque.Presence of the foreign body is detected more sensitively by the metal detector than by plain radiographs, and localisation to the stomach or lower gastrointestinal tract permits conservative management without confirmatory radiographs.2This has particular advantages for children, who tend to swallow a large variety of objects and in whom radiation should be avoided if possible.The cost of such a hand held metal detector would be quickly recouped once five or so radiographs had been avoided.