Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Are retrievable vena cava filters placed in trauma patients really retrievable?

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Concerns have arisen regarding the use of retrievable inferior vena cava filters (rIVCFs) in trauma patients due to increasing reports of low retrieval rates. We hypothesized that complete follow-up with a dedicated trauma nurse practitioner would be associated with a higher rate of retrievability. This study was undertaken to determine the rate of retrievability of rIVCFs placed in a Canadian Lead Trauma Centre, and to compare the rate of retrievability in our trauma population to our non-trauma patients.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients with rIVCF placed between Jan 1 2000 and June 30 2014. Data were collected on demographics, indication for filter placement, retrieval status, and reasons for non-retrieval. Comparison was made between trauma patients and non-trauma patients.

Results

A total of 374 rIVCFs were placed (61 in trauma patients and 313 in non-trauma patients) and follow-up was complete for the entire cohort. Filter retrieval was achieved in 86.9 % of trauma patients. Reasons for non-retrieval were technical in two patients, and death before retrieval in six patients. Retrieval was successful in 48.9 % of non-trauma patients.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that rIVCFs can be successfully retrieved amongst trauma patients. We demonstrated a higher rate of successful retrieval amongst trauma patients than non-trauma patients in our institution. Careful patient follow-up may play a role in successful retrieval of rIVCFs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Schultz DJ, Brasel KJ, Washington L, et al. Incidence of asymptomatic pulmonary embolism in moderately to severely injured trauma patients. J Trauma. 2004;56(4):727–31 (discussion 731–3).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Haut ER, Garcia LJ, Shihab HM, et al. The effectiveness of prophylactic inferior vena cava filters in trauma patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Surg. 2014;149(2):194–202.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Cho KJ, Greenfield LJ, Proctor MC, et al. Evaluation of a new percutaneous stainless steel Greenfield filter. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 1997;8(2):181–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Giannoudis PV, Pountos I, Pape HC, Patel JV. Safety and efficacy of vena cava filters in trauma patients. Injury. 2007;38(1):7–18.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Unterman S, Nair T. Perforation of inferior vena cava by inferior vena cava filter. West J Emerg Med. 2013;14(2):161–2.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Kumar SP, Mahtabifard A, Young JN. Fractured inferior vena cava filter strut presenting as a penetrating foreign body in the right ventricle: report of a case. J Card Surg. 2008;23(4):378–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Townsend TD, Rathbun S, Gautam A, Whitsett T. Images in vascular medicine. Persistent abdominal pain from a perforated inferior vena cava filter. Vasc Med. 2007;12(1):33–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hansen ML, Sørensen R, Clausen MT, et al. Risk of bleeding with single, dual, or triple therapy with warfarin, aspirin, and clopidogrel in patients with atrial fibrillation. Arch Intern Med. 2010;170(16):1433–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Kirilcuk NN, Herget EJ, Dicker RA, et al. Are temporary inferior vena cava filters really temporary? Am J Surg. 2005;190(6):858–63.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Antevil JL, Sise MJ, Sack DI, et al. Retrievable vena cava filters for preventing pulmonary embolism in trauma patients: a cautionary tale. J Trauma. 2006;60(1):35–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Karmy-Jones R, Jurkovich GJ, Velmahos GC, et al. Practice patterns and outcomes of retrievable vena cava filters in trauma patients: an AAST multicenter study. J Trauma. 2007;62(1):17–24 (discussion 24–5).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kidane B, Madani AM, Vogt K, et al. The use of prophylactic inferior vena cava filters in trauma patients: a systematic review. Injury. 2012;43(5):542–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Swami U, Annunziata G, Fulger I. Experience with vena cava filters at a large community hospital and level-I trauma center: indications, complications, and compliance barriers. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2013;20(5):546–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Rogers FB, Shackford SR, Miller JA, et al. Improved recovery of prophylactic inferior vena cava filters in trauma patients: the results of a dedicated filter registry and critical pathway for filter removal. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;72(2):381–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Allen TL, Carter JL, Morris BJ, Harker CP, Stevens MH. Retrievable vena cava filters in trauma patients for high-risk prophylaxis and prevention of pulmonary embolism. Am J Surg. 2005;189(6):656–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Helling TS, Kaswan S, Miller SL, Tretter JF. Practice patterns in the use of retrievable inferior vena cava filters in a trauma population: a single-center experience. J Trauma. 2009;67(6):1293–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada

    W. R. Leeper, P. B. Murphy, K. N. Vogt, T. J. Leeper, D. K. Gray & N. G. Parry

  2. Department of Radiology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada

    S. W. Kribs

  3. Trauma Program, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada

    D. K. Gray & N. G. Parry

  4. Centre for Critical Illness Research, London, ON, Canada

    N. G. Parry

  5. Division of Critical Care, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada

    W. R. Leeper & N. G. Parry

  6. Division of General Surgery, London Health Sciences Centre, Room E2-217, Victoria Hospital, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, ON, N6A 5W9, Canada

    P. B. Murphy

Authors
  1. W. R. Leeper
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. B. Murphy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. N. Vogt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. T. J. Leeper
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S. W. Kribs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. D. K. Gray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. N. G. Parry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to W. R. Leeper.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Robert Leeper, Patrick Murphy, Kelly Vogt, Terrence Leeper, Stewart Kribs, Daryl Gray and Neil Parry declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human research statement

The research performed was a retrospective chart review and complied with all the ethic standards set forth by the Research Ethics Board at Western University (REB 105656). Due to the retrospective nature informed consent was not required.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Leeper, W.R., Murphy, P.B., Vogt, K.N. et al. Are retrievable vena cava filters placed in trauma patients really retrievable?. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 42, 459–464 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-015-0553-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-015-0553-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation