Anyone else had surgical clips left in their neck after surgery?

Posted by sapphire1158 @sapphire1158, Jul 24, 2023

Has anyone else had surgical clips left in their neck after surgery

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11/12/2025 Yes I have had two metal clips left in my body after a Total Thyroidectomy 01/16/2023 for Follicular Cancer. I did not know or heard of or ever scrubbed in with any surgeon who used Metal Clips to stop bleeders . As a Scrub Tech and LPN in 3 hospital in Michigan never would we ever be allowed to leave metal clips or hemostat in someone's body ......I had a ER Visit this year 2025 and I had several chest x-rays and the radiologist reported he saw two metal clips one was embedded in the Mediastinum and another embedded in the neck I assume near the thyroid bed.... I have had to have two MRI's of spine and abdomen and 5 full body cat scans since having a total thyroidectomy removed 01/16/2023. I called my surgeons office and reported to the his office nurse who later sent me a two page letter that Doctor said they are MRI safe . I have an appt to talk to my ENT Surgeon about this and see if he will remove them .....JanH

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Profile picture for janmi78 @janmi78

11/12/2025 Yes I have had two metal clips left in my body after a Total Thyroidectomy 01/16/2023 for Follicular Cancer. I did not know or heard of or ever scrubbed in with any surgeon who used Metal Clips to stop bleeders . As a Scrub Tech and LPN in 3 hospital in Michigan never would we ever be allowed to leave metal clips or hemostat in someone's body ......I had a ER Visit this year 2025 and I had several chest x-rays and the radiologist reported he saw two metal clips one was embedded in the Mediastinum and another embedded in the neck I assume near the thyroid bed.... I have had to have two MRI's of spine and abdomen and 5 full body cat scans since having a total thyroidectomy removed 01/16/2023. I called my surgeons office and reported to the his office nurse who later sent me a two page letter that Doctor said they are MRI safe . I have an appt to talk to my ENT Surgeon about this and see if he will remove them .....JanH

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@janmi78 hi there I ran across your comments as I have been looking to see if anyone else had surgical clips put in their neck and wasn’t told of them. I’ve had nothing but issues after my neck surgery stiffness trouble swallowing extreme headaches the pain radiates exactly where my surgical clips sit. I was never told of these clips I had no idea they were in me till about a month ago. The dr they did the procedure no longer works there so now I feel like I’m going in circles trying to find a Dr to take these out. I’m sure there is scar tissue attached to them as well. I’m from Michigan myself not far from Detroit. I had my procedure done at Henry ford and I’m shocked that these were never mentioned or listed in my notes.

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Profile picture for shell82 @shell82

@janmi78 hi there I ran across your comments as I have been looking to see if anyone else had surgical clips put in their neck and wasn’t told of them. I’ve had nothing but issues after my neck surgery stiffness trouble swallowing extreme headaches the pain radiates exactly where my surgical clips sit. I was never told of these clips I had no idea they were in me till about a month ago. The dr they did the procedure no longer works there so now I feel like I’m going in circles trying to find a Dr to take these out. I’m sure there is scar tissue attached to them as well. I’m from Michigan myself not far from Detroit. I had my procedure done at Henry ford and I’m shocked that these were never mentioned or listed in my notes.

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@janmi78 hi just wondering
If you got my other message about surgery clips?

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Yes, regarding the staples. Almost six years ago I had a neck resection to remove lymph nodes as well as TORS surgery to treat base of tongue cancer. I was recently reminded of these when a SLP was reviewing with me my fluoroscopy results. They've never been an issue ( I think) but always wondered why they weren't removed.

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