Role of inferior vena cava filter implantation in preventing pulmonary embolism

ABSTRACT

A retrospective review of all patients undergoing IVC filter implantation at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, from June 2004 to June 2006 was conducted to study the indications of inferior vena cava [IVC] filter use and impact on short-term morbidity/mortality. A total of 17 patients received IVC filters. Five patients were excluded due to data loss. One month clinical follow-up was available for 12 patients and 6 months follow-up was also available for 4 of 12 patients. The underlying disease was deep venous thrombosis [DVT] with pulmonary embolism [PE] in 6 [50%], DVT without PE in 4 [33.3%] and PE with negative duplex scan for DVT in 2 [16.6%] patients, respectively. Indications for IVC filter implantation were DVT and/or PE with contraindication to anticoagulation in 8 [66.7%] and DVT and/or PE with complications of anticoagulation in 4 [33.3%] patients. No procedure-related complications were noted in all 17 patients. Three patients [25%] died of non-PE related causes during the 1st month. There were no PE related mortalities at 6 months. This data set indicates that IVC filter implantation is a safe procedure with no short-term morbidity/mortality and potential long-term mortality benefit