Snapshot quiz 15/12

Published: 11/21/2015

Authors: Teague WJ and King SK

The forceps is not holding anything. Rather, the appendix is being tented up by magnetic attraction between intraluminal magnets and the instrument’s handle. A teenager underwent minilaparotomy to remove swallowed magnets, which were arrested in the right lower quadrant on serial radiographs. To minimize procedural morbidity, the magnetic attraction between the intraluminal foreign bodies and an extraluminal metal instrument was exploited. Thus, the magnets were dragged from the right colon back into the appendix. From this point, simple appendicectomy allowed easy and clean removal of the magnets. The patient was discharged the following day.