Technical success and safety of retrieval of the G2 filter in a prospective, multicenter study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the technical success and safety for retrieval of the G2 filter.


METHODS
The authors performed a prospective, multicenter study of 100 patients with temporary indication for caval interruption. Patients were enrolled consecutively between December 2005 and July 2006. There were 67 men and 33 women with a mean age of 52.1 years (range, 19-82 years). Indications for filter placement were trauma (n = 56), perioperative risk (n = 16), and medical indications (n = 28). Forty-two patients had venous thromboembolism at filter placement. Fifty-eight filters were placed prophylactically.


RESULTS
Retrieval was attempted in 61 patients. Fifty-eight of the 61 filters (95%) were successfully retrieved after a mean dwell time of 140 days (range, 5-300 days). In all failed retrievals, the filter tip was against the caval wall. There was no difference in dwell times between successful and unsuccessful retrievals. Although there were no cases of cranial migration, caudal migrations were observed in 12% of cases (10 of 85 patients with a complete data set). Other device-related complications included filter fracture (1/85, 1.2%), filter tilt of more than 15 degrees (15/85, 18%), and leg penetration (16/61, 26%). The recurrent pulmonary embolism (PE) rate was 2%, with no PE in the 30-day period after filter retrieval.


CONCLUSIONS
Retrieval of the Recovery G2 filter was safe and successful in most patients. Caudal migration was observed as an unexpected phenomenon.
Binkert
Christoph A
CA
Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. christoph.binkert@ksw.ch
Drooz
Alain T
AT
Caridi
James G
JG
Sands
Mark J
MJ
Bjarnason
Haraldur
H
Lynch
Frank C
FC
Rilling
William S
WS
Zambuto
Domenic A
DA
Stavropoulos
S William
SW
Venbrux
Anthony C
AC
Kaufman
John A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020878:Device Removal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013812:Therapeutics; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016306:Vena Cava Filters / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult