title: Temporary vena cava filter placement for pulmonary embolism.
abstract: Current clinical trials are under way to determine the safety and efficacy of temporary inferior vena cava filters for use in patients who need but have contraindications to anticoagulation medications for a short time (<10 days). To date, no data on these types of filters have been published. The authors describe a 20-year-old male trauma patient in whom a pulmonary embolism developed early in his hospital course and who was appropriately placed on anticoagulation therapy. Surgical intervention, however, was necessary to repair complex facial fractures sustained in a motorcycle collision. A filtering infusion catheter was placed until anticoagulation therapy could be resumed. The patient tolerated the surgery without further embolism and has recovered without difficulty.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC 28232, USA.
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Backus
authors.forename: B Todd
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Heniford
authors.forename: Ronald F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Sing
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016306:Vena Cava Filters
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin