title: The Greenfield filter as a potential hazard to the operating surgeon.
abstract: The Greenfield filter and similar devices are placed in the vena cava of patients who have contraindications to anticoagulation, but who would otherwise be at risk of pulmonary embolism without such anticoagulation. Injury to a health care worker from one of these devices has been reported in the case of a pathologist performing a necropsy. To the author's knowledge, injury or near-injury to a member of the surgical team during operation has not been reported in the literature. The authors report on a near-miss injury from such a device to the surgical first assistant during the performance of a pancreaticoduodenectomy. Simple guidelines to avoid similar injuries are provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, John D. Dingell VAMC, and the Wayne State University Medical School, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Salwen
authors.forename: Marc D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Basson
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy; D010820:Physicians; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016306:Vena Cava Filters / Q000009:adverse effects*