Medical devices in the abdomen and pelvis

Medical devices in the abdomen and pelvis are important to be recognized, just like medical devices of the chest. We often ignore these devices, considering them to be incidental and non-pathological, however it is essential to be aware of potential complications.

Gastrointestinal devices

• tubes

  • stomach tubes: nasogastric / Ryles tube, feeding tube

  • intestinal tubes: nasojejunal feeding tube, Millor-Abbot tube (not used now), enteroclysis tube, gel pump tube (Parkinson), manometry tube, duodenal-jejunal bypass sleeve device (EndoBarrier)

  • gastrostomy tube (PEG/RIG), gastrostomy button, Malecot tube

  • jejunostomy tube

• gastric lap band

• gastric balloon

• gastric pacemaker

• capsule endoscopy devices

• colostomy bags

• bowel biopsy devices

• rectal temperature probe

Genitourinary devices

• ureteric (ureteral) stent: e.g. double 'J' stent

• metallic ureteric stent

• urethral stent

• bladder neck stent

• artificial urinary sphincter

• artificial urethral sphincter

• Foley catheter

• suprapubic catheter

• nephrostomy tube, e.g. angiographic catheters, pigtail catheters, Malecot catheter

• contraceptive devices, e.g. IUCD (e.g. Copper-T, Mirena), Norplant, vaginal ring

• tubal ligation devices, Essure device

• vasectomy devices

• adjustable continence therapy implants (ProACT balloon device)

• pessaries

• penile prostheses

• tandem and ovoid implants for gynecologic brachytherapy

• tampon 

• menstrual cup

• sacral nerve stimulator

Post-operative devices

• surgical sutures, staples, clips, and glue

• surgical sponges

  • most commonly retained foreign surgical body is a laparotomy cotton sponge

  • it can be easily identified on radiographs by a 'ribbon-like' characteristic marker (see: gossypiboma)

• surgical needles, ties

• surgical drains, e.g. closed-wound suction drains, gravity drains, sump drains

• biliary drains and stents: T-tube, biliary stent (e.g. Cook stent)

• metallic stents: vascular stents, self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS)

• embolization coils

• endo clip or hemo clip

• Ovesco device

• IVC filters

• vascular grafts, e.g. aortobi-iliac bypass grafts

• haemodialysis reliable output (HeRO) catheters

Miscellaneous

• foreign bodies

• medications ingested by the patient: potassium chloride, antacids (e.g. Pepto-Bismol, magnesium salts), iron tablets, vitamin pills, barium sulfate and iodinated contrast media

• residual medication injected into soft tissues e.g. bismuth (historically used for syphilis) in the buttocks

• calcified injection sites in the soft tissue, most commonly buttocks in diabetics

• radiopaque markers, as used in a shapes/colon transit study for evaluation of patients with chronic constipation (e.g. Sitz markers)

• patient restraint devices

• fetal monitoring equipment

• residual radiopaque contrast media

• spinal instrumentation hardware

• vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty related

• hernia mesh, e.g. tantalum mesh

• umbilical arterial and venous catheters

• dialysis catheters

• ascites drains

• chemotherapy-infusion pumps

• insulin pumps

• femoral central venous catheters

• ECMO arterial or venous catheters

• ventriculoperitoneal catheters

• antibiotic-impregnated beads

• brachytherapy seeds in the prostate

See also

• medical devices in the head and neck

• medical devices in the thorax

• medical devices in the limbs

• rectal foreign bodies