title: Simple hand-held metal detectors are an effective means of detecting cardiac pacemakers in the deceased prior to cremation.
abstract: The hazard of undetected cardiac pacemakers exploding in crematoria is well described. This short report describes the use of an affordable hand-held metal detector to detect cardiac pacemakers. Over the course of a year, the metal detector located 100% of cardiac pacemakers in a district general hospital mortuary. A simple model using pigskin and fat is also used to demonstrate the effectiveness in vitro. Commercially purchased hand-held metal detectors should be used in all mortuaries responsible for detection and removal of cardiac pacemakers prior to cremation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Doncaster DN2 5LT, UK. jason.stone@dbh.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Jason Lyle
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fearn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055700:Cremation; D005107:Explosions / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D009027:Mortuary Practice / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods; D034421:Sus scrofa
chemical_list: D008670:Metals