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Updated: May 11, 2026
09:33
An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium
Published on: December 17, 2018
Intraperitoneal elemental mercury exposure from a mercury-weighted bougie
Maryann Mazer-Amirshahi1, Margit L Bleecker, Fermin Barrueto
1The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA, maryannmazer@gmail.com.
Summary
A patient experienced elemental mercury exposure during gastric bypass surgery due to a damaged medical device. Hospitals should discontinue mercury-containing devices to prevent patient and healthcare worker exposure.
Area of Science:
- Medical Device Safety
- Toxicology
- Surgical Complications
Background:
- Elemental mercury exposure can occur from damaged medical devices.
- A case report details a mercury spill into the peritoneum during laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery.
Observation:
- A mercury-weighted esophageal bougie leaked elemental mercury into the patient's peritoneum during surgery.
- Peak intraperitoneal mercury concentration reached 98,169 ng/m³, with blood and urine levels peaking at 146 μg/L and 227 μg/L, respectively.
- The patient developed proteinuria despite no acute toxicity symptoms.
Findings:
- Inadvertent exposure to toxic levels of elemental mercury is possible when medical devices fail.
- Significant mercury levels were detected in the patient's peritoneum, blood, and urine post-exposure.
Implications:
- Hospitals should cease using mercury-containing medical devices due to inherent risks.
- Safer, mercury-free alternatives are available and recommended to protect patients and healthcare professionals.
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