Follow-up after partial interruption of the vena cava with the Günther filter

We have treated 34 patients with the Günther filter. Follow-up ranged from 5 to 891 days (median 129). Eight patients died 5-352 days (median 26) after filter insertion, without relation to the procedure. Six of them had extensive cancer. At 2 weeks, a mean caudal migration of 27 +/- 20 mm of the Günther filter was observed (n = 24). No significant migration occurred later than 2 weeks. In 2 patients, downward displacement of the device to the iliocaval junction was observed, with recurrent embolism in 1 case. A second filter was placed in the infrarenal vena cava in both cases. There was no other recurrent embolism and no sign of vena caval occlusion.