• Boozilla@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    Thanks. I did a bit of Dr. Google research (and everything on the internet is true!).

    It seems that surgical clips are usually not magnetic, but it depends on the type and year of manufacture, etc. Mine are several years old. So yeah, I would definitely bring it up if I ever need an MRI. I’m used to doctors acting annoyed and condescending, so what’s one more time?

    Hopefully they don’t perform MRIs on unconscious patients. Nothing in 'Murican healthcare would surprise me.

    • SacralPlexus@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Radiologist here. Virtually all surgical clips (in the US) are made of titanium and safe for MRI and have been for quite a few years now. We routinely scan people with clips that are decades old and don’t have issues.

      We do frequently scan unconscious patients and typically that involves reviewing surgical records and prior imaging, questioning family about surgeries/implants, and frequently the techs will check the patients skin looking for any surgical scars. If there is any question we get X-rays first to look for metal.