Titanium Clip Allergy

[jewlz728]

My friend's 16 yr old daughter has been in & out of the hospital (mostly in) since June. A little over a year ago she had her Gallbladder removed, then her appendix out a few months later.  After a month in the hospital in Las Vegas, they transferred her to Cedars Sinai, then LA Childrens, where they eventually diagnosed her with Mitochondrial Disease as well as Eosinophilic Esophagatis.  

While she was in the hospital, they found that she is allergic to the Titanium clip used for her gallbladder. She is always in pain & cannot eat at all...has been on TPN for months.  She has been in the hospital in LV for the past month & the doctors are not comfortable removing the clip.  Is it even remotely possible that the clip is causing the pain & vomiting?  If so, where & how do you find a doctor that would be willing to remove the clip?  

[jewlz728]

Thank you very much Dr. Watters for your response.  They ordered a sample of the clip & an allergist did a skin test on her back. This poor girl has just suffered so much, the parents think it's worth a shot to have it removed. Their pediatric surgeon in Las Vegas says he is not comfortable performing the surgery, so maybe they can locate a hepatobiliary surgeon.  Thanks again.  

[Christopher R Watters, MD]

How was this allergy determined? The two options for removal would be either a pediatric surgeon or a hepatobiliary surgeon. Although removal would not be predicted to be difficult it would be best to see someone a little more experienced in working in the area.