Buckling of the tethering catheter causes migration of a temporary caval filter to the right atrium.
OBJECTIVE
To report problems in the tethering catheter shaft of the Tempofilter, temporary caval filter.


METHODS
Two cases are reported where the tethering catheter shaft of the Tempofilter buckled within the jugular vein.


RESULTS
Buckling of the tethering shaft caused cephalic migration of the filter into the right atrium. Both filters were uneventfully removed without adverse sequelae.


CONCLUSIONS
These cases demonstrate another mechanism of tethering shaft shortening which results in unexpected migration of the filter. This device is potentially dangerous because of the liability of the tethering cather to buckle at or near the insertion site with cephalic migration of the filter. Improvements in the tethering catheter mechanism need to be made before further patient usage.
Department of Radiology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
I M
IM
Kelly
C S
CS
Boyd
D000328:Adult; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D016306:Vena Cava Filters; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000628:therapy*