The ProTrieve Sheath funnel captures embolized filter fragments during complex inferior vena cava filter removal

Removal of embedded or malpositioned inferior vena cava (IVC) filters can require advanced techniques. Historically, operators have feared IVC filter device fracture but have lacked reliable methods to manage embolization of liberated fragments. We report the case of a 70-year-old male who presented with abdominal pain and bilateral lower extremity edema and was found to have iliocaval thrombosis secondary to a malpositioned and embedded IVC filter. A novel embolic protection strategy using the ProTrieve Sheath (Stryker Peripheral Vascular) was instrumental in capturing a liberated fragment resulting from filter fragmentation during the transfemoral inversion retrieval technique. While transfemoral inversion is an established tactic for complex filter retrieval, fracture and fragment migration remain a major concern. The availability of novel embolic protection devices may improve procedural safety while preserving high technical success.