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Thromboembolism surgery

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Surgery

Inferior Vena Cava Filter

Inferior vena cava filter reduces pulmonary embolism[1] and is an option for patients with an absolute contraindiciation to anticoagulant treatment (e.g., cerebral hemorrhage) or those rare patients who have objectively documented recurrent PEs while on anticoagulation, an inferior vena cava filter (also referred to as a Greenfield filter) may prevent pulmonary embolisation of the leg clot. However these filters are themselves potential foci of thrombosis,[2] IVC filters are viewed as a temporizing measure for preventing life-threatening pulmonary embolism.[3]

Venous Thromboembolism

Pulmonary Embolism

References

  1. Decousus H, Leizorovicz A, Parent F, Page Y, Tardy B, Girard P, Laporte S, Faivre R, Charbonnier B, Barral F, Huet Y, Simonneau G (1998). “A clinical trial of vena caval filters in the prevention of pulmonary embolism in patients with proximal deep-vein thrombosis. Prévention du Risque d’Embolie Pulmonaire par Interruption Cave Study Group”. N Engl J Med. 338 (7): 409–15. PMID 9459643.
  2. “Eight-year follow-up of patients with permanent vena cava filters in the prevention of pulmonary embolism: the PREPIC (Prevention du Risque d’Embolie Pulmonaire par Interruption Cave) randomized study”. Circulation. 112 (3): 416–22. 2005. PMID 16009794.
  3. Young T, Aukes J, Hughes R, Tang H (2007). “Vena caval filters for the prevention of pulmonary embolism”. Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (3): CD006212. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006212.pub2. PMID 17636834.

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