title: Venous thromboembolic disease: the use of "optional" inferior vena cava filters.
abstract: Approximately 140,000 to 200,000 patients die as a result of pulmonary embolism in the United States each year. If the diagnosis is made and therapy initiated, the mortality rate drops to 8%. Vena cava filters play a role in the management of patients with thromboembolic disease. Deployment of "optional" filters is changing practice paradigms.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Anthony C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Venbrux
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ignacio
authors.forename: Shawn N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Sarin
authors.forename: Amy P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Soltes
authors.forename: Noel C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Haskins
authors.forename: Dmitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gagarin