Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common cause of death. Treatment and prevention from a known deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is usually by anticoagulation. However, in some patients anticoagulation is not possible or effective and IVC filters are used as an alternative or adjunct. Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters have become widely used but are controversial with limited data on their efficacy, indications and safety.
YoungTTangHHughesR. Vena caval filters for the prevention of pulmonary embolism. Cochrane Database Syst Rev2010:17;(2). CD 006212.
2.
DecoususHLeizoroviczAParentFA clinical trial of vena caval filters in the prevention of pulmonary embolism in patients with proximal deep-vein thrombosis (Prévention du Risque d'Embolie Pulmonaire par Interruption Cave Study Group). N Engl J Med1998;338: 409–15.
3.
DecoususHBarralFBuch-MullerEight-year follow-up of patients with permanent vena cava filter in the prevention of pulmonary embolism. Circulation2005;112: 416–22.
4.
FullenWDMillerEHSteeleWFMcDonoughJJ. Prophylactic vena caval interruption in hip fractures. J Trauma1973;13: 403–10.
5.
SteinPDMattaFKeyesDImpact of vena cava filters on in-hospital case fatality rate from pulmonary embolism. Am J Med2012;125: 478–84.
6.
AngelLFTapsonVGalgonRESystematic review of the use of retrievable inferior vena cava filters. J Vasc Interv Radiol2011;22: 1522–30.
7.
SpencerFABatesSMGoldbergRJA population-based study of inferior vena cava filters in patients with acute venous thromboembolism. Arch Intern Med2010;170: 1456–62.
8.
WhiteRHGeraghtyEMBrunsonAHigh variation between hospitals in vena cava filter use in thromboembolism. JAMA Intern Med2013;173: 506–512.
9.
British Society of Interventional Radiology (BSIR) Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filter Registry. UberoiRTappingCRChalmersNAllgarV. Cardiovasc Intervent Radio2013. Available from:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00270-013-0606-2. Accessed 1 June 2013.