Endovascular management of IVC syndrome after IVC filter placement

Approximately 60,000-100,000 Americans die from deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism annually, while the overall estimate of individuals affected is 30,000-600,000. Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement has emerged as a break-through endovascular technique which has gained increasing acceptance and has probably saved thousands of lives by preventing fatal thromboembolic events. However, in the absence of a national IVC filter registry an accurate estimate of device complications is currently unavailable. We present a case of symptomatic IVC syndrome due to IVC interruption in a patient with a non-retrievable IVC filter. This patient was initially managed with balloon angioplasty and mechanical thrombectomy with suboptimal results and subsequently with stent placement through the IVC filter.