Venous thromboembolic disease: The use of "optional" Inferior vena cava filters

Abstract

Approximately 140,000 to 200,000 patients die as a result of pulmonary embolism in the United States each year. If the diagnosis is made and therapy initiated, the mortality rate drops to 8%. Vena cava filters play a role in the management of patients with thromboembolic disease. Deployment of "optional" filters is changing practice paradigms. Copyright © 2008 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.