Long-term complications of inferior vena cava filters

• Published in: Journal of vascular surgery. Venous and lymphatic disorders (New York, NY) Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 139 - 144
• Main Authors: Ayad, Micheal T., Gillespie, David L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-01-2019
• Subjects: Complications; Device Removal; Evidence-Based Medicine; Filter; Foreign-Body Migration - diagnostic imaging; Foreign-Body Migration - etiology; Foreign-Body Migration - therapy; Humans; Inferior vena cava; Prosthesis Design; Prosthesis Failure; Prosthesis Implantation - adverse effects; Prosthesis Implantation - instrumentation; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Vena Cava Filters - adverse effects; Venous Thrombosis - diagnostic imaging; Venous Thrombosis - etiology; Venous Thrombosis - therapy; Filter; Complications; Inferior vena cava
• ISSN: 2213-333X; 2213-3348
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvsv.2018.01.022

Anticoagulation is the cornerstone for the treatment of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. On occasion, this is not possible because of bleeding complications or, rarely, breakthrough pulmonary embolism associated with this treatment method. The development of vena cava interruption in the 1970s was a critical advance in the treatment of these patients. Placement of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters has been steadily increasing since their introduction. Nonetheless, the incidence of complications associated with placement of these devices is largely unknown. Most of the evidence regarding IVC filter complications relies on case reports, with scarce data coming from larger randomized controlled trials. We aimed to present a summary addressing long-term complications of IVC filters as published in recent articles addressing problems such as IVC thrombosis and IVC filter migration, perforation, fracture, embolization, and tilting. We performed a PubMed search and Google Scholar search using different combinations of “long term,” “complications,” “IVC filter,” and “vena cava filter.” We reviewed the available English publications and reported the findings in this summary.