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Clinical experience with retrievable vena cava filters: results of a prospective observational multicenter study
Author(s) -
IMBERTI D.,
BIANCHI M.,
FARINA A.,
SIRAGUSA S.,
SILINGARDI M.,
AGENO W.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of thrombosis and haemostasis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.947
H-Index - 178
eISSN - 1538-7836
pISSN - 1538-7933
DOI - 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2005.01448.x
Subject(s) - contraindication , medicine , surgery , inferior vena cava , asymptomatic , deep vein , thrombosis , observational study , venous thrombosis , prospective cohort study , radiology , alternative medicine , pathology
Summary. Background: Retrievable inferior vena cava (IVC) filters offer the attractive possibility to be definitive or to be removed when they become unnecessary. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the likelihood to remove the retrievable IVC filter ALN. Methods: A total of 30 patients (13 males and 17 females, mean age 57 ± 15 years) underwent placement of ALN filters. Indications for implantation were acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) with a contraindication to anticoagulation in 26 cases (86%), primary prophylaxis after major trauma in two cases (7%) or before surgery in two patients with very high thromboembolic risk (7%). Results: The filter was successfully placed in all patients. After a median follow‐up of 18.2 months, there were three cases (10%) of trapped emboli within the filter, one case (3%) of asymptomatic migration of the filter toward the heart and two patients (7%) had deep vein thrombosis (DVT) recurrences. ALN retrieval was attempted through transjugular approach in 18 patients (60%) and the maneuver was successful in 14 of them (78%); when the decision of removal was taken more than 3 months after the implantation, the retrieval was possible only in four of eight patients (50%). The median implantation period was 123 days (range: 30–345). Conclusions: The present study shows the efficacy of ALN filter; it also demonstrates the feasibility and safety of retrieval after a medium‐term period of placement. Removal after 3 months after implantation can be unsuccessful and maximum implantation time requires further studies.