title: Review of indications and practices of vena caval filters at a large university hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vena caval filter (VCF) use has been increasing in recent years. Prophylactic VCF placement has been applied liberally in high-risk patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients with VCF placement over a 2-year period at a university hospital were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 244 patients underwent VCF placement in 2 years. Of all, 54% of the patients had the VCF placed for an absolute indication, 14% for a relative indication, and 32% for prophylaxis. Only 14 (9%) of the retrievable filters were removed. Eight patients had a complication of VCF placement; there were no complications of filter retrieval. Vena caval filter placement for prophylaxis alone was 57% from the division of trauma and surgical critical care, 18.3% from interventional radiology department, and 5.2% from the division of vascular surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that many VCFs are placed for prophylaxis. A low percentage of VCFs was retrieved. This may be the practice at many other large university-based hospitals, necessitating strategies for reducing their placement.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA. rjm124@gmail.com
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Meisner
authors.forename: Nicos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Labropoulos
authors.forename: Antonios P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Gasparis
authors.forename: Jenica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lampl
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Apostolos K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tassiopoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020878:Device Removal; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016306:Vena Cava Filters / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*