PERCUTANEOUSLY PLACED INFERIOR VENA-CAVA FILTER FOR THE PREVENTION OFPULMONARY EMBOLI - A PLEA FOR EARLY INSERTION

After surgery or trauma, thrombosis of a lower-extremity vein can lead to potentially fatal pulmonary embolization. Although anticoagulation has traditionally been the preferred method of preventing emboli, thi s approach is often ineffective or contraindicated. In such cases, par tial or complete interruption of the inferior vena cava with a special ly designed filter can prevent emboli from reaching the pulmonary circ ulation. The author reviews the history of vena caval interruption and describes his own experience with this technique, which has the poten tial for becoming the treatment of choice in the prevention of pulmona ry emboli.