Vena cava filters in cancer patients: experience with 50 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To study the immediate and late results obtained from the implantation of vena cava filters in cancer patients with deep vein thrombosis concomitant with neoplasia.


METHODS
This was a retrospective evaluation of 50 patients with an association of cancer and deep venous thrombosis who underwent interruption of the inferior vena cava and the insertion of permanent vena cava filters. The indications for the procedure, filter implantation technique, early and late complications related to the operation, and the clinical evolution were evaluated.


RESULTS
The most frequent indication for filter implantation was the contraindication for full anticoagulant treatment (80%). The femoral vein was the preferred access route (86% of the patients). There were no complications related to the surgical procedure. During the follow-up, the following complications were observed: 1 episode of nonfatal pulmonary thromboembolism, 2 cases of occlusion of the inferior vena cava, and 1 case of thrombus retained in the device. Twenty patients (40%) died due to progression of the neoplasm.


CONCLUSIONS
Interruption of the inferior cava vein using an endoluminal filter is a procedure with a low rate of complications. It is a safe and efficient measure for preventing pulmonary embolism in cancer patients who have deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs.
Zerati
Antonio Eduardo
AE
Department of Vascular Surgery, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil. aezerati@uol.com.br
Wolosker
Nelson
N
Yazbek
Guilherme
G
Langer
Marcel
M
Nishinari
Kenji
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants; D000075202:Contraindications; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016306:Vena Cava Filters / Q000009:adverse effects; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications*
D000925:Anticoagulants