Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Volume 20, Issue 8 , Pages 1046-1051, August 2009

G2 Inferior Vena Cava Filter: Retrievability and Safety

  • Hearns W. Charles, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Tisch Hospital, New York University Langone Medical Center, HE-221, 560 First Ave., New York, NY 10016
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to H.W.C.
    • ,
  • Michelle Black, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Tisch Hospital, New York University Langone Medical Center, HE-221, 560 First Ave., New York, NY 10016
    • Current address: Department of Medicine, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon.
    • ,
  • Sandor Kovacs, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Tisch Hospital, New York University Langone Medical Center, HE-221, 560 First Ave., New York, NY 10016
    • ,
  • Arash Gohari, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Tisch Hospital, New York University Langone Medical Center, HE-221, 560 First Ave., New York, NY 10016
    • Current address: Department of Medicine, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon.
    • ,
  • Joseph Arampulikan, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Tisch Hospital, New York University Langone Medical Center, HE-221, 560 First Ave., New York, NY 10016
    • Current address: Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Lincoln Hospital and Mental Health Center, Bronx, New York.
    • ,
  • Jeffrey W. McCann, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Tisch Hospital, New York University Langone Medical Center, HE-221, 560 First Ave., New York, NY 10016
    • Current address: Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
    • ,
  • Timothy W.I. Clark, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Tisch Hospital, New York University Langone Medical Center, HE-221, 560 First Ave., New York, NY 10016
    • ,
  • Mona Bashar, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, New York
    • ,
  • David Steiger, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, New York

Received 19 August 2008; received in revised form 30 March 2009; accepted 30 March 2009. published online 29 June 2009.

Purpose

To assess the retrievability of the G2 inferior vena cava (IVC) filter and factors influencing the safety and technical success of retrieval.

Materials and Methods

From October 2006 through June 2008, G2 IVC filters were placed in 140 consecutive patients who needed prophylaxis against pulmonary embolism (PE). General indications for filter placement included history of thromboembolic disease (n = 98) and high risk for PE (n = 42); specific indications included contraindication to anticoagulation (n = 120), prophylaxis in addition to anticoagulation (n = 16), and failure of anticoagulation (n = 4). Filter dwell time, technical success of filter retrieval, and complications related to placement or retrieval were retrospectively evaluated in patients who underwent filter removal.

Results

Twenty-seven attempts at G2 filter removal were made in 26 patients (12 men; age range, 24–88 years; mean age, 55.4 y) after a mean period of 122 days (range, 11–260 d). Data were collected retrospectively with institutional review board approval. Filter removal was successful in all 27 attempts (100%). Tilting of the filter (≥15°) occurred in five cases (18.5%), with probable filter incorporation into the right lateral wall of the IVC in one. Other complications of retrieval such as filter thrombosis, significant filter migration, filter fracture, and caval occlusion were not observed.

Conclusions

G2 IVC filter retrieval has a high technical success rate and a low complication rate. Technical success appears to be unaffected by the dwell time within the reported range.

Abbreviations: DVT, deep vein thrombosis, IVC, inferior vena cava, PE, pulmonary embolism

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 From the SIR 2009 Annual Meeting.

 None of the authors have identified a conflict of interest.

PII: S1051-0443(09)00396-0

doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2009.03.046

Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Volume 20, Issue 8 , Pages 1046-1051, August 2009

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