Renal failure secondary to thrombotic complications of suprarenal inferiorvena cava filter in cancer patients

Purpose: To evaluate renal function before and after suprarenal inferior ve na cava (IVC) filter placement. Methods: We describe, in a personal series of 13 consecutive cases (all of them stage IV cancer patients, one LGM filter, one Antheor filter, 11 Green field filters) in our institution, two cases of fatal renal vein thrombosis after placement of a suprarenal filter. Evaluation of renal function was b ased on serum urea (in mmol/L; normal 3.30-6.60), serum creatinine (in mu m ol/L; normal < 115.1), and calculation of serum creatinine clearance. Results and conclusion: This study suggests that in advanced-stage cancer p atients who have a single functional kidney, renal functional insufficiency , or previous renal vein thrombosis, IVC filter placement above the renal v eins may not be appropriate. Suprarenal filter placement should be performe d only after analysis of predicted survival, after detailed discussions wit h the patient, and most importantly after renal function evaluation.