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Semin intervent Radiol 2017; 34(02): 208-212
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1602597
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Techniques for Retrieval of Permanent Inferior Vena Cava Filters

Cayce S. Workman
1   Section of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
,
Robert J. Lewandowski
1   Section of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
,
Kush R. Desai
1   Section of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
› Author Affiliations
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Publication Date:
01 June 2017 (online)

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The use of inferior vena cava filters (IVCFs) has increased significantly since their introduction in the early 1970s, largely due to expansion of relative and absolute indications for placement, lowering thresholds for utilization. In the short term, they have demonstrated a reduction in both the incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) and PE-related mortality.[1] [2] However, studies suggest that these benefits may be counterbalanced by an increase in the rate of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT),[1] as well as several other device-related complications including device fracture[3] [4] [5] and component perforation[6] [7] with subsequent penetration into nearby abdominal and retroperitoneal structures such as the pancreas,[8] duodenum,[9] [10] and aorta.[11] Though numerous advanced techniques have been described for the removal of embedded retrievable IVCFs,[12] [13] [14] there is a paucity of literature on the retrieval of permanent devices. In this article, we will present our approach to the retrieval of Greenfield (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA), TrapEase (Cordis, Miami Lakes, FL), and Simon Nitinol (Bard Peripheral Vascular, Tempe, AZ) filters. For each device, we will provide a brief history of the device's development and implementation into clinical practice; this will be followed by a description of our procedural approach, which we will illustrate with a case and images from our practice. We will also discuss techniques described in the literature for the retrieval of VenaTech (B. Braun, Bethlehem, PA) devices.