Vena cava filters

Abstract

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Although most patients can be treated safely with anticoagulation, inferior vena cava filters (IVCF) represent an important alternative to anticoagulation in a small subset of patients. After the introduction of temporary IVC filters, the number of implantations has had an upward trend. Indications for IVCF insertion have been liberalized despite limited evidence supporting the practice. In addition, IVC filters are associated with a number of serious complications. In this article, we comprehensively review the entire issue of IVCF, including indications, placement technique, and complications.