metal clip concern for MRI

Question

My Doctor is considering an MRI to to help find potential disk problems in L5-S1 area. When she called she was concerned because they see metal clips in hip area from the XRAY. She asked if I had had any surgical procedures that would involve metal. The only surgery I've had was an emergency appendectomy in 1997. I need to know if metal clips are something that are normally used for this procedure. The only things I was aware of going in my body were a scope under the belly button and 2 small surgical tools in low pelvic area. Please inform.....

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Hmmmmm that is odd indeed. I would call the surgeon that performed your appendectomy and see why you could possibly have clips in the area cause as far as I know unless they accidently left something behind you shouldn't have any clips from that unless there is something beyond your normal appendectomy that I am not aware of.  Which is why I suggest contacting the surgeon who did the appendectomy.

Anonymous · Answer

I don't know if clips are "normally" used for an appendectomy  (given the complications I had with mine, I hope not), but yes, I had two metal clips left in my belly when I had my appendix out, so it can happen.If I had to have my appendix out again, I would plead with the surgeon to just suture up the open area left after the appendix was cut out.

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