Dissolution of tungsten coils leads to device failure after transcatheter embolisation of pathologic vessels

Rapid evaluation of the durability of cortical neural implants using accelerated aging with reactive oxygen species

“…As demonstrated in earlier studies, tungsten dissolves in buffer solution (Peuster et al 2001, Sanchez et al 2006 and we find this process is facilitated by the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The rate of this process was quantified with elemental analysis technique (ICP-MS).…”

Histological and molecular evaluation of iron as degradable medical implant material in a murine animal model

“…The implants should be flexible to be compatible with minimally invasive techniques, and sufficiently sturdy to prevent collapsing or kinking. The mechanical stability of resorbable polymeric materials is not satisfactory and their degradation can provoke inflammation, whereas with metal alloys superior mechanical strength can be achieved [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] . Whereas magnesium stents tend to degrade too rapidly, this appears not to be the case for iron implants [25][26][27][28][29][30][31] .…”

Dissolution of tungsten coils does not produce systemic toxicity, but leads to elevated levels of tungsten in the serum and recanalization of the previously occluded vessel

“…3 In keeping with our own findings, to date there are no reports of clinical evidence of toxicity or unexplained clinical symptoms in patients in whom fluoroscopy is suggestive of degradation of tungsten coils. [2][3][4][5] To date, the only reported sign of clinical toxicity associated with high levels of tungsten in the serum involves a 19-year-old patient who was discovered convulsing and unconscious after ingesting tungsten-contaminated wine. Tungsten was measured at 5 mg/l in the serum, and analysis of gastric contents revealed levels of 8 mg/l.…”

“…Recently, decreased radiopacity of mechanical detachable coils made of tungsten (MDS, Balt Extrusion, Montmorency, France), and elevated levels of tungsten in the serum, were reported subsequent to the occlusion of intracranial aneurysms, collateral vessels, and varicose veins. [2][3][4][5] To assess whether similar findings could be observed in patients treated with coils for the occlusion of aorto-pulmonary or venous collateral channels, coronary artery fistulas, persistent arterial ducts, and vessels nourishing hepatic hemangioendotheliomas, we reviewed data from patients in whom tungsten coils had been implanted at our institution between the years 1996 and 1999. We searched for signs of clinical pathology in all patients with elevated levels of tungsten in the serum, both clinically and by testing renal and hepatic function.…”