IVC Filter Deployment to prevent pulmonary embolism
Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filter Placement
What is inferior vena cava filter placement?
Inferior vena cava filter placement is surgery to place a filter into your inferior vena
cava. The inferior vena cava, or IVC, is a large blood vessel found in your abdomen
(stomach). It begins at your abdomen, and continues up to your heart, inside your
chest. The IVC brings blood from the lower parts of your body back to your heart.
During the procedure, a catheter (thin plastic tube) is inserted into the blood vessels in
your neck or groin. A doppler ultrasound or fluoroscope (x-ray) is used to guide the
catheter into your IVC. The IVC filter is inserted through the catheter and into the
IVC where it attaches to the walls of the vein. The catheter is pulled out after the
procedure and the filter is left in.
What is an inferior vena cava filter?
An IVC filter is a specially shaped mesh made of very thin wires. It is placed in the
center of the IVC to trap blood clots going to your heart. This helps prevent the blood
clots from blocking blood vessels in your lungs and causing serious problems. The
following are the types of IVC filters:
- Permanent filters: These filters are left firmly in the IVC and are not taken out. Examples include the Greenfield filter, Bird's Nest filter, and TrapEase filter.
- Temporary or retrievable filters: These filters can be removed from the IVC after a period of time. They may also be left permanently in the IVC depending on the person's condition. Examples include the OptEase filter, Gunther Tulip filter, and Recovery filter. They have small hooks or knobs on one end so that they could be removed by caregivers. A special catheter with a hook is used to remove temporary IVC filters. Your caregiver will tell you when the IVC filter may be removed.
What is pulmonary embolism?
Pulmonary embolism is a condition where blood vessels in your lungs get blocked by
a floating blood clot. When this happens, the area it supplies with blood may die and
rot. You may have trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting, bluish skin color, and you
may even die. The blood clot that causes this condition usually comes from the blood
vessels in your legs or hips. Blood clots are made of fat and fibers. Clots that stick on
blood vessel walls make the vessels narrow. They may completely clog the blood
vessel, or they may break off from the walls and float in your blood.
Why might I need an inferior vena cava filter placed?
You may need surgery to place an IVC filter when you have blood clotting problems.
You may also need it if you are at risk of having blood clots, such as during
pregnancy or surgery. You may also need it after trauma, such as a head injury or
fractured pelvis. A filter may also prevent patients who have a history of deep venous
thrombosis, from getting clots in their lungs. When medicine to thin the blood cannot
be used, an IVC filter may be placed.
What are the risks of having an inferior vena cava filter?
There are risks with IVC placement surgery, including infection and bleeding. You
may get a blood clot in your leg or arm. This can cause pain and swelling, and it can
stop blood from flowing where it needs to go in your body. The blood clot can break
loose and travel to your lungs. A blood clot in your lungs can cause chest pain and
trouble breathing. This problem can be life-threatening.
Your IVC and the tissue around it may get damaged. Your IVC filter may break,
loosen, change position, or get blocked. If there are problems with your filter, you
may need to have more surgery. Ask your caregiver if you have any questions or
concerns about your condition, treatment, or care.
Care Agreement:
You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about
your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment
options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to
treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.
The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice
for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist
before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
Embolization:
Embolization is defined as the "therapeutic introduction of various substances into the
circulation to occlude vessels, either to arrest or prevent hemorrhaging; to devitalize a
structure, tumor, or organ by occluding its blood supply; or to reduce blood flow to an
arteriovenous malformation.
Medical conditions treated by using embolotherapy can be grouped as follows:
1. Vascular anomalies (eg, AVM, AVF, venous malformation [VM], lymphatic
malformation [LM], and hemangioma)
2. Hemorrhage (eg, pseudoaneurysms and GI
tract, pelvic, posttraumatic, epistaxis, and hemoptysis bleeding)
3. Other conditions (eg, tumors, varicoceles, and organ ablation)