Successful percutaneous thrombectomy of an infected vena-caval thrombus due to a toothpick

We report a case of a 25-year-old Caucasian female with a septic thrombosis in the inferior vena cava (IVC) which contained a toothpick. She was admitted with fever and abdominal pain for 2 weeks. Computed tomography scan showed thrombus with air density in the suprarenal IVC. However, there was no evidence of duodenocaval fistula. Because of the patient's reluctance for surgery, endovascular therapy was tried. A partially-deployed nitinol stent was used as a filter, and aspiration thrombectomy was performed. Unexpectedly, a toothpick was retrieved within the stent. Anticoagulants and antibiotics were administered. A follow-up computed tomography after 2 months showed total resolution of the residual thrombus.