Current treatment and prevention of pulmonary embolus with the greenfield filter

Anticoagulation is standard therapy for treatment of venous thromboembolic disease. However, in some cases it is unsafe or ineffective. Mechanical interruption of the inferior vena cava (IVC) with the Greenfield filter offers the best level of mechanical protection for these patients. Commonly accepted indications for filter insertion are listed in (Figure 1). The original 24 F stainless steel Greenfield vena caval filter (SGF) has been in use for more than 20 years and a smaller 12 F titanium (TGF-MH) version has been approved for clinical use. The unique geometry of the six-legged conical design allows adequate flow within the IVC even when 70% of the cone is filled with thrombus (Figure 2). Each filter has demonstrated a high rate of caval patency and low rate of recurrent PE.