INFERIOR VENA-CAVA THROMBOSIS FOLLOWING PERCUTANEOUS FILTER INSERTION- AN UNUSUAL CAUSE OF HEMODYNAMIC COMPROMISE

Inferior vena cava thrombosis is a well-recognized complication of fil ter insertion. We report on two patients who presented with progressiv e exertion dyspnoea and lipothymia revealing a complete inferior vena cava thrombosis below the filter. Haemodynamic exploration demonstrate d that cardiac output could not adapt during upright exercise owing to inappropriate cardiac preload. Since these general manifestations can precede any symptom of lower limb venous stasis, thrombosis of inferi or vena cava has to be carefully searched in this setting. The pathoge nesis of this unusual complication is reviewed in the light of experim ental models of vena cava ligation.