title: Successful retrieval of 29 ALN inferior vena cava filters at a mean of 25.6 months after placement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively evaluate the outcomes of ALN inferior vena cava (IVC) filter extractions after long-term implantation (ie,>1 y).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between November 2004 and January 2011, 503 retrievable ALN IVC filters were implanted, but only 188 (37%) were addressed for removal. Because it was suspected that a subset of patients had not been referred for IVC filter retrievals, between November 2008 and January 2011, all patients who still had an ALN filter that had been implanted at least 1 year previously were systematically recalled. For those patients, the relative benefits and risks of filter removal were evaluated by a multidisciplinary conference. If deemed necessary by the conference, filter removals were performed. The endpoints were the feasibility and safety of filter retrieval, which were based on an evaluation of the success rates, pre- and postprocedure complications, and dosimetric assessments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine patients still retained their filters at least 1 year following implantation. The mean interval between implantation and retrieval was 25.6 months (range, 14.8-40.8 mo), and extractions were performed on eight patients who had received a filter at least 2 years earlier. The longest dwell time was 40 months. All filters were extracted successfully without complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Optional ALN filter retrievals can be performed safely after more than 1 year following implantation.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, 20 rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France. olivier.pellerin@egp.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pellerin
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: di Primio
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sapoval
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D020878:Device Removal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016306:Vena Cava Filters / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; C052045:aluminum nitride