268 Silver Dressings, Metal Clips, VAC’s and Implants - Are Plastic Surgery Patients Safe in the MRI Scanner

Aim Advancements in the devices and dressings used in plastic surgery continue to grow and with complexity comes confusion. This is a response to uncertainty amongst specialists which led to an adverse incident in a specialty where soft tissue imaging is most helpful. Our goal was to create a clear document to be used by the plastics team and radiology department with the aim of dispelling myths surrounding the MRI safety of devices and equipment used in plastic surgery. Method Focussing on the orthoplastic theatre environment, a list was collated of all surgical devices/equipment that are left in or on patients and may pose uncertainty with regards to safety when MRI scanning. Devices were divided into internal and external and included further subdivisions such as implants, metalwork, dressings and splints. A literature review was undertaken to identify the safety status (safe = green, unsafe = red, artifact/distortion = amber) of all devices/equipment. Surveys assessing usability were given to members of the plastics team and radiology department. Results The majority of devices/equipment were found to be MRI safe. A colour coded aide-memoire was designed and displayed electronically and physically. Positive feedback was received by radiographers and members of the plastics team in response to the memoire. Conclusions To clarify uncertainties and promote patient safety, a concise, comprehensive and user-friendly aide-memoire was created which confirmed the safety status of commonly used devices in orthoplastics theatres.