Inferior Vena Cava Filters: When to Place and When to Remove

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common and feared result of deep vein thrombosis. While anticoagulation is the mainstay of management, interruption of flow of thrombus from leg veins to the pulmonary circulation is frequently desired either in lieu of or in addition to anticoagulation. Inferior vena cava filters have become frequently used to prevent PE despite a paucity of evidence for efficacy and increasing concerns about the long-term complications of indwelling filters.

Keywords

IVC filter - optional - retrieval - deep venous thrombosis - pulmonary embolism

• References

• 1 Howe CT, Kakkar VV, Flanc C, Clarke MB. The natural history of deep-vein thrombosis. Br J Surg 1969; 56 (8) 625
• 2 Geerts WH, Bergqvist D, Pineo GF , et al. Prevention of venous thromboembolism: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (8th Edition). Chest 2008; 133: 381S-453S
• 3 Kaufman JA, Kinney TB, Streiff MB , et al. Guidelines for the use of retrievable and convertible vena cava filters: report from the Society of Interventional Radiology multidisciplinary consensus conference. Surg Obes Relat Dis 2006; 2 (2) 200-212
• 4 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Guidance. NICE Clinical Guideline 92. Venous thromboembolism: reducing the risk. Reducing the risk of venous thromboembolism (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) in patients admitted to hospital. London: Royal College of Physicians; 2010
• 5 Kaufman JA, Rundback JH, Kee ST , et al. Development of a research agenda for inferior vena cava filters: proceedings from a multidisciplinary research consensus panel. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2009; 20 (6) 697-707
• 6 Spencer FA, Bates SM, Goldberg RJ , et al. A population-based study of inferior vena cava filters in patients with acute venous thromboembolism. Arch Intern Med 2010; 170 (16) 1456-1462
• 7 Wilhelm BJ, Markelov A, Sakharpe AK, Baccaro LM, Singhal V. The efficacy of prophylactic IVC filters in gastric bypass surgery. Surg Endosc 2015; 29 (4) 882-889
• 8 Sing RF, Fischer PE. Inferior vena cava filters: indications and management. Curr Opin Cardiol 2013; 28 (6) 625-631
• 9 Donaldson MC, Wirthlin LS, Donaldson GA. Thirty-year experience with surgical interruption of the inferior vena cava for prevention of pulmonary embolism. Ann Surg 1980; 191 (3) 367-372
• 10 Bohling C, Auer AI, Hershey FB. The Mobin-Uddin caval filter for prevention of pulmonary emboli. Am J Surg 1974; 128 (6) 809-812
• 11 Cimochowski GE, Evans RH, Zarins CK, Lu CT, DeMeester TR. Greenfield filter versus Mobin-Uddin umbrella: the continuing quest for the ideal method of vena caval interruption. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1980; 79 (3) 358-365
• 12 Cadavid CA, Gil B, Restrepo A , et al. Pilot study evaluating the safety of a combined central venous catheter and inferior vena cava filter in critically ill patients at high risk of pulmonary embolism. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2013; 24 (4) 581-585
• 13 Cimochowski GE, DeMeester TR, Evans RH, Zarins CK, Lu CT. Greenfield filter vs Mobin-Uddin umbrella. JAMA 1980; 244 (19) 2160
• 14 Kaufman JA, Kinney TB, Streiff MB , et al. Guidelines for the use of retrievable and convertible vena cava filters: report from the Society of Interventional Radiology multidisciplinary consensus conference. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2006; 17 (3) 449-459
• 15 Guyatt GH, Akl EA, Crowther M , et al. Executive summary: Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis, 9th ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines. Chest 2012; 141 (7) S-47S
• 16 Mismetti P, Rivron-Guillot K, Quenet S , et al. A prospective long-term study of 220 patients with a retrievable vena cava filter for secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism. Chest 2007; 131 (1) 223-229
• 17 Imberti D, Bianchi M, Farina A, Siragusa S, Silingardi M, Ageno W. Clinical experience with retrievable vena cava filters: results of a prospective observational multicenter study. J Thromb Haemost 2005; 3 (7) 1370-1375
• 18 Group PS ; PREPIC Study Group. Eight-year follow-up of patients with permanent vena cava filters in the prevention of pulmonary embolism: the PREPIC (Prevention du Risque d'Embolie Pulmonaire par Interruption Cave) randomized study. Circulation 2005; 112 (3) 416-422
• 19 Fullen WD, Miller EH, Steele WF, McDonough JJ. Prophylactic vena caval interruption in hip fractures. J Trauma 1973; 13 (5) 403-410
• 20 Mismetti P. Randomized trial assessing the efficacy of the partial interruption of the inferior vena cava by an optional vena caval filter in the prevention of the recurrence of pulmonary embolism. PREPIC 2 trial: prevention of embolic recurrences by caval interruption (prospective, multicentric, randomised, o. pen trial [in French]. Rev Pneumol Clin 2008; 64 (6) 328-331
• 21 Meltzer AJ, Graham A, Kim JH , et al. Clinical, demographic, and medicolegal factors associated with geographic variation in inferior vena cava filter utilization: an interstate analysis. Surgery 2013; 153 (5) 683-688
• 22 White RH, Geraghty EM, Brunson A , et al. High variation between hospitals in vena cava filter use for venous thromboembolism. JAMA Intern Med 2013; 173 (7) 506-512
• 23 Aziz F, Spate K, Wong J, Aruny J, Sumpio B. Changing patterns in the use of inferior vena cava filters: review of a single center experience. J Am Coll Surg 2007; 205 (4) 564-569
• 24 Yunus TE, Tariq N, Callahan RE , et al. Changes in inferior vena cava filter placement over the past decade at a large community-based academic health center. J Vasc Surg 2008; 47 (1) 157-165
• 25 Molvar C. Inferior vena cava filtration in the management of venous thromboembolism: filtering the data. Semin Intervent Radiol 2012; 29 (3) 204-217
• 26 Bos AS, Tullius T, Patel M , et al. Indwelling and retrieval complications of Denali and Celect infrarenal vena cava filters. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2016; 27 (7) 1021-1026
• 27 Hudali T, Zayed A, Karnath B. A fractured inferior vena cava filter strut migrating to the left pulmonary artery. Respir Med Case Rep 2015; 16: 3-6
• 28 Marmagkiolis K, Lendel V, Cilingiroglu M. Endovascular management of IVC syndrome after IVC filter placement. Rev Port Cardiol 2015; 34 (9) 555.e1-555 .e4
• 29 Haga M, Hosaka A, Miyahara T, Hoshina K, Shigematsu K, Watanabe T. Penetration of an inferior vena cava filter into the aorta. Ann Vasc Dis 2014; 7 (4) 413-416
• 30 Durack JC, Westphalen AC, Kekulawela S , et al. Perforation of the IVC: rule rather than exception after longer indwelling times for the Günther Tulip and Celect retrievable filters. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 2012; 35 (2) 299-308
• 31 Andreoli JM, Lewandowski RJ, Vogelzang RL, Ryu RK. Comparison of complication rates associated with permanent and retrievable inferior vena cava filters: a review of the MAUDE database. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2014; 25 (8) 1181-1185
• 32 Milovanovic L, Kennedy SA, Midia M. Procedural and indwelling complications with inferior vena cava filters: frequency, etiology, and management. Semin Intervent Radiol 2015; 32 (1) 34-41
• 33 Rao B, Duran C, Steigner ML, Rybicki FJ. Inferior vena cava filter-associated abnormalities: MDCT findings. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2012; 198 (6) W605-W610
• 34 Angel LF, Tapson V, Galgon RE, Restrepo MI, Kaufman J. Systematic review of the use of retrievable inferior vena cava filters. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2011; 22 (11) 1522-1530 .e3
• 35 Marquess JS, Burke CT, Beecham AH , et al. Factors associated with failed retrieval of the Günther Tulip inferior vena cava filter. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2008; 19 (9) 1321-1327
• 36 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Removing Retrievable Inferior Vena Cava Filters: Initial Communication. Posted August 9, 2010. USFDA. 2010
• 37 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Removing Retrievable Inferior Vena Cava Filters: FDA Safety Communication. Updated May 6, 2014. . USFDA. 2014
• 38 Caplin DM, Nikolic B, Kalva SP, Ganguli S, Saad WE, Zuckerman DA ; Society of Interventional Radiology Standards of Practice Committee. Quality improvement guidelines for the performance of inferior vena cava filter placement for the prevention of pulmonary embolism. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2011; 22 (11) 1499-1506
• 39 Morales JP, Li X, Irony TZ, Ibrahim NG, Moynahan M, Cavanaugh Jr KJ. Decision analysis of retrievable inferior vena cava filters in patients without pulmonary embolism. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2013; 1 (4) 376-384
• 40 Hoppe H, Kaufman JA, Barton RE , et al. Safety of inferior vena cava filter retrieval in anticoagulated patients. Chest 2007; 132 (1) 31-36
• 41 Rosenthal D, Wellons ED, Lai KM, Bikk A, Henderson VJ. Retrievable inferior vena cava filters: initial clinical results. Ann Vasc Surg 2006; 20 (1) 157-165
• 42 Brown DB, Pappas JA, Vedantham S, Pilgram TK, Olsen RV, Duncan JR. Gadolinium, carbon dioxide, and iodinated contrast material for planning inferior vena cava filter placement: a prospective trial. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2003; 14 (8) 1017-1022
• 43 Binkert CA, Morash MC, Gates JD. Venographic findings at retrieval of inferior vena cava filters. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2007; 188 (4) 1039-1043
• 44 Carrafiello G, Mangini M, Fontana F , et al. Suprarenal inferior vena cava filter implantation. Radiol Med (Torino) 2012; 117 (7) 1190-1198
• 45 Al-Hakim R, Kee ST, Olinger K, Lee EW, Moriarty JM, McWilliams JP. Inferior vena cava filter retrieval: effectiveness and complications of routine and advanced techniques. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2014; 25 (6) 933-939 , quiz 940
• 46 Zhou D, Spain J, Moon E, Mclennan G, Sands MJ, Wang W. Retrospective review of 120 celect inferior vena cava filter retrievals: experience at a single institution. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2012; 23 (12) 1557-1563
• 47 Zhu X, Tam MD, Bartholomew J, Newman JS, Sands MJ, Wang W. Retrievability and device-related complications of the G2 filter: a retrospective study of 139 filter retrievals. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2011; 22 (6) 806-812
• 48 Lynch FC. Modified loop snare technique for the removal of bard recovery, G2, G2 express, and eclipse inferior vena cava filters. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2012; 23 (5) 687-690
• 49 Al-Hakim R, McWilliams JP, Derry W, Kee ST. The hangman technique: a modified loop snare technique for the retrieval of inferior vena cava filters with embedded hooks. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2015; 26 (1) 107-110
• 50 Stavropoulos SW, Ge BH, Mondschein JI, Shlansky-Goldberg RD, Sudheendra D, Trerotola SO. Retrieval of tip-embedded inferior vena cava filters by using the endobronchial forceps technique: experience at a single institution. Radiology 2015; 275 (3) 900-907
• 51 Vink TW, Reekers JA, Van Dijk LC, Wever JJ, Van Overhagen H. Balloon-assisted retrieval of tilted OptEase IVC filter. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 2012; 35 (4) 975-977
• 52 Kuo WT, Odegaard JI, Louie JD , et al. Photothermal ablation with the excimer laser sheath technique for embedded inferior vena cava filter removal: initial results from a prospective study. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2011; 22 (6) 813-823
• 53 Scher D, Venbrux A, Okapal K , et al. Retrieval of TRAPEASE and OPTEASE inferior vena cava filters with extended dwell times. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2015; 26 (10) 1519-1525
• 54 Sarosiek S, Crowther M, Sloan JM. Indications, complications, and management of inferior vena cava filters: the experience in 952 patients at an academic hospital with a level I trauma center. JAMA Intern Med 2013; 173 (7) 513-517
• 55 Siracuse JJ, Al Bazroon A, Gill HL , et al. Risk factors of nonretrieval of retrievable inferior vena cava filters. Ann Vasc Surg 2015; 29 (2) 318-321
• 56 Abtahian F, Hawkins BM, Ryan DP , et al. Inferior vena cava filter usage, complications, and retrieval rate in cancer patients. Am J Med 2014; 127 (11) 1111-1117
• 57 Lynch FC. A method for following patients with retrievable inferior vena cava filters: results and lessons learned from the first 1,100 patients. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2011; 22 (11) 1507-1512
• 58 Irwin E, Byrnes M, Schultz S , et al. A systematic method for follow-up improves removal rates for retrievable inferior vena cava filters in a trauma patient population. J Trauma 2010; 69 (4) 866-869
• 59 Minocha J, Idakoji I, Riaz A , et al. Improving inferior vena cava filter retrieval rates: impact of a dedicated inferior vena cava filter clinic. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2010; 21 (12) 1847-1851
• 60 Sutphin PD, Reis SP, McKune A, Ravanzo M, Kalva SP, Pillai AK. Improving inferior vena cava filter retrieval rates with the define, measure, analyze, improve, control methodology. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2015; 26 (4) 491-8 .e1
• 61 Charlton-Ouw KM, Leake SS, Sola CN , et al. Technical and financial feasibility of an inferior vena cava filter retrieval program at a level one trauma center. Ann Vasc Surg 2015; 29 (1) 84-89
• 62 Tao MJ, Montbriand JM, Eisenberg N, Sniderman KW, Roche-Nagle G. Temporary inferior vena cava filter indications, retrieval rates, and follow-up management at a multicenter tertiary care institution. J Vasc Surg 2016; (e-pub ahead of print).
• 63 Thors A, Muck P. Resorbable inferior vena cava filters: trial in an in-vivo porcine model. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2011; 22 (3) 330-335
• 64 Eggers MD, McArthur MJ, Figueira TA , et al. Pilot in vivo study of an absorbable polydioxanone vena cava filter. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2015; 3 (4) 409-420
• 65 Zhang F, Li H, Liang G, Zhang H. Development and evaluation of a new biodegradable vena cava filter in a canine model. Asian J Surg 2015; (e-pub ahead of print).