Ingested Multiple Magnets

Ingestion of multiple magnets or single magnet + additional metallic foreign bodies

• Potential for significant bowel complications

Rare-earth magnets 5-10x stronger than traditional magnets

Metallic density foreign bodies; shapes variable

Magnets attract through bowel walls

• Multiple “stacked” magnets may simulate single rectangular or cylindrical foreign body

Entrapment of interposed bowel wall suggested with

• Gap between otherwise closely apposed magnets or magnet & adjacent metallic foreign body

• Failure of magnet to move on sequential radiographs

Abnormal bowel gas patterns from complications

• Ulceration, perforation, fistulae, obstruction, volvulus

Foreign body ingestion radiographic series includes

• Frontal views of neck through anus, ± lateral view of upper airway

• Targeted lateral views if foreign body identified

Symptoms: None, abdominal pain/vomiting, choking

Management depends on number of magnets, location in GI tract, & symptoms

• Single magnet: Remove vs. follow radiographic passage

• Multiple magnets or magnet + metal in esophagus/stomach: Endoscopic or surgical removal

• Multiple magnets or magnet + metal beyond stomach

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    With symptoms &/or abnormal bowel gas pattern: Operative exploration with magnet removal

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    Without symptoms or abnormal bowel gas pattern: Consider careful, frequent clinical & radiographic evaluation until passage vs. removal

Postgastric magnetopathy