Current practice of temporary vena cava filter insertion: A multicenter registry

PURPOSE: To evaluate the current practice of temporary vena cava filter pla cement and its complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter registry was conducted from May 1995 u ntil May 1997 using a standardized questionnaire. One hundred eighty-eight patients were evaluated. Patient characteristics, filter indications, filte r characteristics, and complications were registered. RESULTS: Deep vein thrombosis was proven in 95.2% of the patients. Main fil ter indication was thrombolysis therapy (53.1%), Average filter time was 5. 4 days. An Antheor filter was inserted in 56.4%, a Guenther filter in 28.6% , and a Prolyser filter in 17.%. Transfemoral filter implantation was sligh tly preferred (54.8%). Four patients died of pulmonary embolism (PE) during filter protection. Major filter problems were filter thrombosis (16%) and filter dislocation (4.8%). When thrombus was found in or at the filter befo re explantation, additional thrombolysis was performed in 16.7%, additional filter implantation in 10%, and thrombus aspiration in 6.7%; 4.8% of filte rs were replaced with permanent filters. DISCUSSION: Temporary vena cava filters are placed to prevent PE in a defin ed patient population, Despite their presence, PEs still occur in a small p ercentage. Problems of filter thrombosis and dislocation have to be solved. CONCLUSION: The results of this multicenter registry support the need for i nnovative filter design, as well as a randomized, prospective study.