Paper presentedAre temporary inferior vena cava filters really temporary?
Section snippets
Methods
A level I trauma registry was queried for IVC filter insertion in 5799 patients admitted from September 1, 1997, through June 30, 2004. Inclusion criteria consisted of any patient admitted to the trauma service who underwent placement of an IVC filter. Institutional, vascular surgery, and interventional radiology medical records were retrospectively reviewed for patient demographics, Injury Severity Score (ISS), filter type, removal information, complications, and outcomes. Filters were
Frequency of IVC filter placement
In the 44 months before the availability of retrievable filters (September 1, 1997, through April 30, 2001), 1 therapeutic IVC filter was placed. In the 37 months after introduction of the retrievable filter (May 1, 2001, through June 30, 2004), 27 filters were placed, of which 25 (93%) were removable. Filters were placed for therapy in patients with VTE (n = 17) or for prophylaxis (n = 11). Filter placement increased each year, with the most dramatic increase seen in filters placed for
Comments
The use of IVC filters has significantly increased since the availability of retrievable filters. However, our data show that only 35% of retrievable filters were removed. These results indicate that although our practice patterns have changed because of the theoretical advantages of retrievable filters, the majority of filters intended as temporary in fact become permanent.
In 1997, the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma published recommendations for the use of IVC filters in trauma
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