Use of a fogarty catheter to open an incompletely expanded Vena Tech-LGM vena cava filter - A case report

A Vena Tech-LGM 30D/U filter (B. Braun/Vena Tech; Evanston, it) opened inco mpletely after transjugular placement in the infrarenal vena cava. The ceph alic points of the stabilizing side rails were open and had engaged the cav al wall. The base of the filter failed to open. The filter would not succes sfully inhibit the clots and could possibly migrate. The filter base was no t placed in a clot as shown with intraoperative venography before and after the placement. The balloon of a 6F Fogarty catheter was used successfully to dilate the distal legs of the filter, and fully expand the base.