Medical devices in the head and neck
Medical devices in the head and neck are regularly observed by radiologists on plain film, CT and MRI reporting. They include devices which pass through the neck into the chest and stomach or ascend to/into the head.
Vascular access devices
- dialysis catheters
- peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC)
- central venous catheters
- carotid artery clamps e.g. Crutchfield clamp
- carotid artery stents
Neural stimulators
- occipital nerve stimulators
- deep brain stimulators
- vagal nerve stimulator
- carotid pacemaker
- spinal cord stimulator
- stimulating scalp electrodes: migraine and tension headaches
Gastrointestinal tract
- nasogastric tube/nasojejunal tube/orogastric tube
Respiratory tract
- nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal airways
- endotracheal tubes
- tracheostomies
- Passy-Muir valve
Spinal devices
- anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF): internal fixation
Other devices
- ventriculoperitoneal shunts
- syringomyelia to pleural shunt
- surgical drains: taken out in the postoperative period
- surgical clips/staples e.g. neck dissection
- brachytherapy needles e.g. recurrent carcinoma
See also
