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Twenty-year clinical experience with the Greenfield filter
1Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, USA.
Cardiovascular Surgery (London, England)
|April 1, 1995
Summary
The Greenfield filter demonstrates excellent long-term safety and efficacy for preventing pulmonary embolism, with a 4% recurrence rate and 96% caval patency over 20 years.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Medical Devices
- Pulmonary Embolism Prevention
Background:
- Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filters are crucial for preventing pulmonary embolism (PE).
- Long-term data on the safety and efficacy of specific IVC filters are essential for clinical decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term safety and efficacy of the stainless-steel Greenfield filter.
- To characterize outcomes of Greenfield filter placement over a 20-year period.
Main Methods:
- Prospective enrollment in a filter registry for patients receiving Greenfield filters.
- Annual follow-up including clinical evaluation, abdominal radiographs, and assessment of venous disease, PE recurrence, filter stability, and IVC/lower extremity patency.
Main Results:
- A 20-year experience with the Greenfield filter was summarized.
- Recurrent pulmonary embolism rate was 4%; caval patency rate was 96%.
- 8% of cases showed clinically insignificant filter movement; no procedural mortality and minimal morbidity were observed.
Conclusions:
- Greenfield filter insertion offers durable protection against pulmonary embolism.
- The device effectively preserves inferior vena cava patency in the long term.