Surgical Management of a Penetrated Greenfield
Inferior Vena Cava Filter

This is a case report of an IVC filter penetration identified during lymph-node dissection for endometrial carcinoma. Although the spread strut put the adjacent abdominal aorta in danger of penetration, surgical removal of the filter could not be performed because there was still an increased risk of pulmonary embolism. Instead of IVC interruption, we used a wrapping technique as a prophylaxis against major bleeding complication due to IVC filter dislocation and recurrent pulmonary embolism.

IVC filter penetration - Pulmonary embolism

References

• 1 Becker D M, Philbrick J T, Selby J B. Inferior vena cava filters. Indications, safety, effectiveness.  Arch Intern Med. 1992;  152 1985-1994
• 2 Greenfield L J, Michna B A. Twelve-year clinical experience with the Greenfield vena caval filter.  Surgery. 1988;  104 706-712
• 3 Miller C L, Wechsler R J. CT evaluation of Kimray-Greenfield filter complications.  Am J Roentgenol. 1986;  147 45-50
• 4 Kim D, Porter D H, Siegel J B, Simon M. Perforation of the inferior vena cava with aortic and vertebral penetration by a suprarenal Greenfield filter.  Radiology. 1989;  172 721-723
• 5 Dabbagh A, Chakfe N, Kretz J G, Demri B, Nicolini P, Fuentes C. et al . Late complication of a Greenfield filter associating caudal migration and perforation of the abdominal aorta by a ruptured strut.  J Vase Surg. 1995;  22 182-187
• 6 Kurgan A, Nunnelee J D, Auer A I. Penetration of the wall of an abdominal aortic aneurysm by a Greenfield filter prong: a late complication.  J Vase Surg. 1993;  18 303-306
• 7 Hoffman M S, DeCesare S, Fiorica J V, Roberts W S, Cavanagh D. Management of gynecologic oncology patients with a preoperative deep vein thrombosis.  Gynecol Oncol. 1997;  64 76-79
• 8 Donaldson M C, Wirthlin L S, Donaldson G A. Thirty-year experience with surgical interruption of the inferior vena cava for prevention of pulmonary embolism.  Ann Surg. 1980;  191 367-372