Amplatz vena caval filter: clinical experience in 30 patients.
Amplatz vena caval filters were inserted percutaneously in 30 patients. Radiologic and clinical follow-up was available in 24 patients (cavogram, CT, or sonography in 20 patients, plain abdominal radiographs in two, and lower extremity venograms in two). Clinical follow-up only was available in four patients, and autopsy reports were available in two patients without radiologic follow-up. The filter was inserted without difficulty in 29 (97%) of the patients. Complications after insertion included recurrent pulmonary embolism in two (7%) of 30, caval thrombosis in seven (23%) of 30, ipsilateral lower extremity deep venous thrombosis after placement of the filter in one (3%) of 30, caval penetration in two (10%) of 20, and caval stenosis in one (5%) of 20. No migration of the filter was noted. Our experience suggests that the Amplatz vena caval filter is easy to insert and adequately prevents recurrent pulmonary embolism but is associated with a relatively high rate of caval thrombosis.
McCowan
T C
TC
Department of Radiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205.
Ferris
E J
EJ
Carver
D K
DK
Baker
M L
ML
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010690:Phlebography; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012008:Recurrence; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology