Ultrasound is used to pinpoint contraceptive devices

Dr Paul O’Brien seeks an implant.

Westside Contraceptive Services, based within Central London Community Healthcare, has developed an expertise in removing deep contraceptive implants ‘lost’ in patients’ arms, locating them with a SonoSite M-Turbo point-of-care ultrasound system.

Dr Paul O’Brien, associate specialist at Westside, explained: “Contraceptive implant rods are the size of matchsticks and are placed under the skin of the inner upper arm. Occasionally, they are misplaced, inserted too deeply or are impalpable when the patient puts on weight.

“By the time referred patients arrive here, they have sometimes endured a few painful attempts at removing the implants blind.  Routine ultrasound may have failed to find the implant and it has then been identified with an expensive MRI scan. Using the M-Turbo, I can locate the implant literally within a matter of seconds.”

Dr O’Brien added: “We also use the M-Turbo to locate intrauterine devices and for other gynaecological applications.”

See this report on page 36 of the September 2010 issue of RAD Magazine.