INFERIOR VENA CAVA FILTER RETRIEVAL FEASIBILITY AND COMPLICATIONS

Document Type : Preliminary preprint short reports of original research

Authors

Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University

Abstract

IVC filters are indicated for patients with documented DVT and contraindication to ‎anticoagulation and patients with recurrent pulmonary embolism despite being on ‎anticoagulation. IVC filters are not recommended for prophylactic placement, free-floating ‎thrombus or prior to systemic thrombolysis. There are two main types of inferior vena cava (IVC) ‎filters: permanent filters and optional (or retrievable) filters. Permanent filters are implanted in ‎patients who require long-term protection against pulmonary embolism (PE) and are unable to ‎take anticoagulant medication due to absolute contraindications. On the other hand, optional ‎filters are designed to be either retrieved or left in place once the temporary risk of PE or ‎contraindication to anticoagulation has resolved. If retrieved, these devices offer potential ‎advantages over permanent IVC filters, including a reduced likelihood of long-term ‎complications such as an increased risk of subsequent DVT, filter migration or embolization, filter ‎perforation and IVC stenosis or occlusion.‎
‎Aim of work:‎
To study the feasibility and complications of IVC filter retrieval among AMUH patients in which ‎the indication for filter deployment was temporary.‎

Keywords