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Stenosis of the Inferior Vena Cava: A Murine Model of Deep Vein Thrombosis
05:37

Stenosis of the Inferior Vena Cava: A Murine Model of Deep Vein Thrombosis

Published on: December 22, 2017

Clinical sequelae of thrombus in an inferior vena cava filter

Iftikhar Ahmad1, Kalpana Yeddula, Stephan Wicky

  • 1Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, GRB-297, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.

Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology
|August 19, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter thrombus is common and often asymptomatic. Anticoagulation showed little effect on thrombus resolution or future pulmonary embolism (PE) risk.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Surgery
  • Interventional Radiology
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are used to prevent pulmonary embolism (PE).
  • Thrombus formation within IVC filters is a known complication.
  • The long-term clinical impact of IVC filter thrombus and the role of anticoagulation remain areas of investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the long-term clinical sequelae of IVC filter thrombus.
  • To evaluate the effect of anticoagulation on IVC filter thrombus progression and regression.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 1,718 patients who underwent IVC filter placement between 2001-2008.
  • Follow-up abdominal CT scans were analyzed for filter thrombus in 598 patients.
  • Statistical analysis, including Fisher exact test, was used to assess the impact of anticoagulation.

Main Results:

  • Filter thrombus was detected in 18.6% of patients on follow-up CT.
  • The majority of filter thrombi were asymptomatic (18.3%).
  • Anticoagulation did not significantly affect thrombus regression or progression rates, nor the occurrence of PE.

Conclusions:

  • Asymptomatic IVC filter thrombus is a frequent finding and rarely progresses to complete caval occlusion.
  • Anticoagulation appears to have minimal impact on the resolution of filter thrombus and the future risk of PE.

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