title: Femoral vein thrombosis following percutaneous placement of the Greenfield filter.
abstract: Following percutaneous insertion of the Greenfield inferior vena cava filter via the femoral route, patients were evaluated for femoral vein thrombosis by real-time ultrasound or Duplex sonography. In 23 patients (24 veins) the femoral vein was dilated with an 8-mm (24 F) angioplasty balloon catheter. Eight of 24 common femoral veins were thrombosed (33%). These findings indicate that thrombosis is a significant complication of percutaneous filter insertion. Dilation was performed in 20 patients (22 veins) with a 9-mm (27 F) balloon catheter; only three veins were thrombosed (14%). Over-dilation of the femoral vein to 27 F to accommodate the 24 F sheath/dilator set may decrease the incidence of thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Maryland Medical System/Hospital, Baltimore 21201.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Tobin
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Pais
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Austin
mesh_terms: D001815:Bloodletting; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014463:Ultrasonography; D016306:Vena Cava Filters