THE FILCARD TEMPORARY, REMOVABLE VENA-CAVA FILTER - USE IN LOCAL THROMBOLYTIC THERAPY

Femoral and iliac vein thrombosis with impending pulmonary embolism is a potentially life-threatening condition. The decision whether or not to implant a permanent caval filter always requires critical consider ation of a number of factors. improper positioning of the filter with resultant filtering inefficiency, thrombosis of the filter and of the cava, propagation of the thrombus through the filter, perforation by t he filter of the vena cava with penetration of the aorta, the duodenum , the psoas muscle or the vertebral body, fragmentation of the filter and migration of the filter are well-documented complications of the c urrently available permanent filters. The danger of fatal pulmonary em bolism has to be weighed against that of one or a combination of any o f the above-mentioned possible complications associated with permanent caval filters which may affect the quality of later life. We present our initial observations with a temporary, removable inferior vena cav a (IVC) filter in a young female patient with a floating thrombus in t he left femoral and iliac vein who underwent successful local thrombol ytic therapy.