Late arterial hemorrhage secondary to a Greenfield filter requiring operative intervention.
Retroperitoneal hematomas associated with Greenfield filters have been described and are generally characterized as clinically insignificant. We report a retroperitoneal hematoma that was associated with a Greenfield filter and that required operative intervention because of hemodynamic instability. At operation a lumbar arterial laceration apparently caused by a protruding filter prong was identified and ligated. The implications of this occurrence for filter placement indications are discussed. The potential life-threatening severity of filter-associated hematomas is emphasized.
Howerton
R M
RM
Department of Surgery, Boston Veterans Administration Medical Center, MA 02130.
Watkins
M
M
Feldman
L
L
D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D003082:Colectomy; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000601:surgery*; D016306:Vena Cava Filters