title: Outcomes of permanent inferior vena cava filters: experiences in Thai patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to study the outcomes of permanent inferior vena cava (IVC) filter implantation in Thai patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study of 28 patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) who underwent prophylactic implantation of IVC filters for fatal pulmonary embolism (PE) between January 2005 and June 2008. The patients' operative records, protocol and follow-up data were analysed. 11 (39%) patients had PE at the initial diagnosis. The mean age of the patients was 62.1 (range 33-83) years. Indications for IVC filter implantation included contraindications to and complications of anticoagulant therapy and floating thrombi in the iliofemoral veins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant technical complication was noted, except for malposition in one patient (3.5%) and failure of the permanent IVC filter to open fully in another. During the follow-up period (mean 17.5 ± 10.9 months), no patients had any episode of PE and nine (32%) died of unrelated causes. Two patients were lost to follow-up. Among the 17 survivors, six (35.2%) had non-recanalised thrombosis vein, four (23.5%) had clinical evidence of chronic venous insufficiency, two (11.7%) had recurrent DVT in the contralateral limb and one (5.8%) developed IVC thrombosis. There was no evidence of migration of the caval filters. No statistical significance was observed in the effects of post-filter anticoagulation drug on current DVT and in the relation between PE at initial diagnosis and death during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Permanent IVC filter implantation may be effective for preventing symptomatic PE in Thai patients, with no significant sequelae in the lower extremities.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruangsetakit
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chinsakchai
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wongwanit
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sermsathanasawadi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Siriapisith
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mutirangura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017751:Safety Management; D015996:Survival Rate; D013785:Thailand; D013995:Time; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016306:Vena Cava Filters / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology / Q000601:surgery*