title: Current practice of temporary vena cava filter insertion: a multicenter registry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the current practice of temporary vena cava filter placement and its complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter registry was conducted from May 1995 until May 1997 using a standardized questionnaire. One hundred eighty-eight patients were evaluated. Patient characteristics, filter indications, filter characteristics, and complications were registered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Deep vein thrombosis was proven in 95.2% of the patients. Main filter indication was thrombolysis therapy (53.1%). Average filter time was 5.4 days. An Antheor filter was inserted in 56.4%, a Guenther filter in 26.6%, and a Prolyser filter in 17.%. Transfemoral filter implantation was slightly preferred (54.8%). Four patients died of pulmonary embolism (PE) during filter protection. Major filter problems were filter thrombosis (16%) and filter dislocation (4.8%). When thrombus was found in or at the filter before explantation, additional thrombolysis was performed in 16.7%, additional filter implantation in 10%, and thrombus aspiration in 6.7%; 4.8% of filters were replaced with permanent filters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Temporary vena cava filters are placed to prevent PE in a defined patient population. Despite their presence, PEs still occur in a small percentage. Problems of filter thrombosis and dislocation have to be solved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this multicenter registry support the need for innovative filter design, as well as a randomized, prospective study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical University of Luebeck, Lübeck, Germany. lorch@medinf.mu.luebeck.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lorch
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Welger
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hillner
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Strecker
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Voshage
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zur
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schwarzbach
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gullotta
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pleissner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huttner
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Siering
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Märcklin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chavan
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gläser
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Apitzsch
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moubayed
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leonhardi
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Schuchard
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zwaan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D012042:Registries; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D016306:Vena Cava Filters / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*