Placement and Retrieval of Inferior Vena Cava Filters

This book addresses placement and retrieval of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters. Until 2010, utilization of IVC filters had been increasing since their introduction in 1967. Studies in the early 2000’s, however, identified that prolonged caval interruption with IVC filters were fraught with complications including filter fracture, migration, and caval thrombosis. This subsequently led the FDA to issue an advisory recommending judicious placement and timely retrieval of IVC filters by treating physicians. This safety advisory ultimately created a heightened awareness by medical professionals and the general public regarding the negative consequences surrounding long-term caval filtration. Subsequently, IVC filter placements decreased nationally while retrievals conversely increased in the post-FDA advisory era. During this same time period, interest in complex IVC filter retrieval also increased as a method to manage patients identified to have or be at risk for complications seconderomnimon,