title: The use of inferior vena cava filters in pediatric patients for pulmonary embolus prophylaxis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report our experience with inferior vena cava (IVC) filters in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a 19-month period, eight low-profile percutaneously introducible IVC filters were placed in four male and four female patients aged 6-16 years (mean 11 years). Indications were contraindication to heparin in six patients, anticoagulation failure in one, and idiopathic infrarenal IVC thrombosis in one. Six of the eight devices placed were titanium Greenfield filters. One LGM and one Bird's Nest filter were also placed. Two of the filters were introduced via the right internal jugular vein by cutdown, and the remainder were placed percutaneously via the right internal jugular vein or the right common femoral vein. Patients received follow-up abdominal radiographs from 2 to 13 months after IVC filter placement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All filters were inserted successfully without complication. Three of the patients died during the follow-up period: two due to underlying brain tumors at 2 and 12 months and a third at 6 weeks due to progressive idiopathic renal vein and IVC thrombosis. The remaining five patients were all alive and well at follow-up without evidence of IVC thrombosis, pulmonary emboli, or filter migration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IVC filter placement using available devices for percutaneous delivery is technically feasible, safe, and effective in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology LAC + USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90033-4586, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Teitelbaum
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mazer
authors.forename: I L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Tonkin
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Rollins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016306:Vena Cava Filters; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging