Temporary use of a Bird's Nest filter during iliocaval thrombolysis

A jugular Bird's Nest filter (Cook, Bloomington, Ind) was partially deployed in the suprarenal cava for prophylaxis to prevent pulmonary embolism in a young woman with phlegmasia cerulea dolens. It was effective in capturing large emboli during thrombolysis of a loose iliocaval thrombus. It was safely removed 6 1/2 hours later, after lysis of most retained filter clots.