A long term follow-up of Günther vena caval filters

Seven patients with Günther inferior vena caval filters were reviewed between 28 and 60 months following insertion of the filter. Some 71% of the filters showed some sort of structural failure, the commonest of these being limb fracture (57%). Fifty-seven per cent also showed either fracture or severe distortion of the basket. Twenty-nine per cent of the filters had suffered loss of an anchoring limb. Only one patient had any clinical sequelae, this being an IVC occlusion. This study confirms that Günther inferior vena caval filters have a structural failure rate of greater than 50%.