Vena cavography with CO(2) versus with iodinated contrast material for inferior vena cava filter placement: a prospective evaluation
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 13, 2026

Quantifying Inferior Vena Cava Compliance and Distensibility in an In Vivo Ovine Model Using 3D Angiography
Published on: April 26, 2024
C L Dewald1, C C Jensen, Y H Park
1Department of Radiology, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center, CA 90033, USA.
Purpose:
To determine whether carbon dioxide (CO(2)) vena cavography can safely guide the placement of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters.
Materials And Methods:
One hundred nineteen patients were prospectively enrolled in this study. CO(2 )cavograms were obtained and evaluated for IVC diameter, location of renal veins, and presence of thrombus and venous anomalies. If CO(2 )cavography was judged to be adequate, an IVC filter was deployed. After filter placement, cavography was performed with iodinated contrast material; these images were compared with the CO(2) cavograms.
Results:
Two patients experienced mild side effects related to venous CO(2) injection. Comparison of cavograms obtained with CO(2) and iodinated contrast-enhanced material showed the caval size to be within 3 mm in all 119 patients. In 116 patients (97.5%), CO(2) cavography was judged to be adequate, and in 115 patients, filters were placed. In three (2.5%) patients, it was necessary to perform iodinated contrast-enhanced cavography before filter deployment. All six cases of venous anomaly and 11 (78.6%) of 14 cases of thrombosis were clearly identified with CO(2) cavography. One filter was maldeployed owing to misinterpretation of the CO(2) cavogram.
Conclusion:
CO(2) cavography is well tolerated, safe, and adequate for identification of the parameters necessary for filter deployment. It is especially valuable in patients with a history of reaction to iodinated contrast material or renal insufficiency.
Related Concept Videos
Imaging Studies V: Intravenous Urography and Retrograde Pyelography
Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System II:Types of Echocardiography
Types of Echocardiography
Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)
TTE is the most common type of echocardiogram which involves placing a transducer on the patient's chest, emitting sound waves to create heart images. TTE is invaluable for evaluating the heart's size, structure, and motion, making it particularly useful for diagnosing...

