An unexpected hazard of indwelling temperature monitoring

Excerpt

A 65-year-old lady was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) following emergency surgery for a perforated duodenal ulcer. The post-operative course was complicated by abdominal sepsis, multiple laparotomies, ventilator associated pneumonia and she required multi-organ support. Percutaneous tracheostomy was performed on day 11. At 6 weeks, she remained ventilator-dependent. High dose steroids were started. High resolution CT scan showed extensive consolidation, subpleural reticulation and interlobular septal thickening suggestive of early fibrosis. Incidentally, a metallic cylindrical object (15 mm × 5 mm) was apparent in the right lower lobe previously unseen on plain chest radiographs (Fig. 1).

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