title: Intravascular ultrasound--guided inferior vena cava filter placement in the military multitrauma patients: a single-center experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High velocity fragments have resulted in a multitude of complex injuries in the military patients, placing them at increased risk of venous thromboembolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was performed of all the intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided bedside inferior vena cava (IVC) filters placed between August 2003 and October 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen patients had bedside IVUS-guided retrievable filter placement. Thirteen males and one female and the mean (+SD) injury severity scores (ISS) was 37.2 (+9.9). The most common causes of injury were explosive devices (57%), gunshot wounds (28%), rocket-propelled grenades (7%), and motor vehicle crashes (7%). Indications for filter insertion were deep venous thrombosis in 36% of patients and pulmonary embolus in 28%. Thirty five percent had filters inserted prophylactically.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Military trauma population ISS is considerably higher than what is reported in the civilian population. The bedside IVUS-guided IVC filter insertion is particularly useful in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Peripheral Vascular Surgery Service, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., USA. gilbert.aidinian@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aidinian
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Mitchell W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Gillespie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000150:complications*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D014481:United States; D016306:Vena Cava Filters; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014857:Warfare