Are vena cava filters safe?
IVC filters have been considered reasonably safe mainly because hundreds of thousands have been placed without large safety signals emerging. However, a retrospective review of 952 patients after IVCF placement suggested a 1% rate of serious complications from IVCF.
What are symptoms of IVC filter problems?
When several clots become trapped in the filter, clot formation down the IVC can cause painful debilitating swelling in the legs. Other signs and symptoms of a problem might include darkening of the skin and ulceration in the lower extremities. Patients may have difficulty identifying the cause of their leg pain.
When is an IVC filter contraindicated?
ACR/SIR guidelines
| Patients with documented VTE | No documented VTE |
|---|---|
| Inability to achieve/maintain adequate anticoagulation | Multiple long-bone or pelvic fractures |
| Propagation/progression of DVT during therapeutic anticoagulation | Patients at high risk (e.g., immobilized or in an intensive care unit) |
What IVC filters are recalled?
FDA Recalls of IVC Filters. The FDA has issued three Class I recalls of IVC filters – the Cordis OPTEASE filter, the Cordis OPTEASE filter introduction kit, and the Greenfield filter system. There are three FDA Class II recalls of IVC filters – the Bard Denali, the Greenfield, and the Cordis OPTEASE filters.
Is IVC filter MRI safe?
IVC filters can pose a threat to MRI safety, as some of the implantable filters are made of metal that can be attracted to the magnets used in MRIs. If precautions are not taken, people who have had an IVC filter implanted can suffer serious injuries if they have an MRI.
Can an IVC filter get infected?
Endovascular infection of IVC filter is a rare event. In patients with IVC filter in place and fever of unknown origin or persistent bacteremia, this complication should be suspected.
Can a IVC filter cause shortness of breath?
An IVC filter is a small metal device that traps large clot fragments and prevents them from traveling through the vena cava vein to the heart and lungs, where they could cause severe complications such as pain, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath or even death.
How long do IVC filters stay in?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends removing temporary IVC filters after 29-54 days. While this is not very long, it should provide enough time for the acute threat to pass or to find another solution that can work on a long-term basis.
When should I remove my IVC filter?
According to the FDA and Radiological Society of North America IVC filters should be removed once the danger of a life-threatening clot is over. Although the procedure to remove the filter is also minimally-invasive, removing the device may be challenging especially after prolonged dwell times.
What is the danger of having blood clot in IVC?
People with Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), or those who have blood clots in a deep leg vein, are at risk for IVC blockage. Having DVT also increases the likelihood of a blood clot breaking off and traveling to the heart, lungs, or brain. If this happens, patients could have a heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or stroke.
Are vena cava filters dangerous?
Inferior Vena Cava Filters are dangerous medical devices meant to reduce the risk of pulmonary embolism. They have been associated with high risk of breakage and malfunction. These filters were meant to be used on a temporary basis only, but manufacturers kept marketing them for years as a permanent solution.
Is vena cava an artery?
Vena cava are the two main veins which bring the oxygen poor blood to the right atrium of the heart from upper half and lower half of the body. The key difference between Aorta and Vena Cava is that Aorta is an artery whereas Vena Cava are two large veins.
How is a vena cava filter inserted?
During Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filter placement, a filtering device is placed within the IVC, a large vein in the abdomen that returns blood from the lower half of the body to the heart.