Failure of a Heifetz aneurysm clip.
A 16-year-old girl died from an acute subarachnoid hemorrhage following the fracture of a blade of a Heifetz aneurysm clip. The clip was manufactured from 17-7PH steel, which on metallurgical testing was found to be highly sensitive to intergranular corrosion. The fracture mechanism was stress corrosion, brought on by the combination of a stress load, an electrolytic environment, and a susceptible steel.
D000293:Adolescent; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000601:surgery; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D013499:Surface Properties; D013523:Surgical Equipment; D014965:X-Rays