title: Perforated inferior vena cava filters as the cause of unclear abdominal pain.
abstract: Inferior vena cava filters are considered a valuable therapeutic option in patients with deep vein thrombosis, subsequent pulmonary emboli, and contraindication for anticoagulation. However, these filters bear the risk of rare but serious complications (e.g., symptomatic caval perforation). We report our experiences with retrievable vena cava filters by means of an actual case and review the recent literature with special regard to filter-dependent delayed symptomatic vena cava perforations. Here, an inferior vena cava filter could be identified as the source of a patient's abdominal pain; after an interventional retrieval approach had failed, open surgical removal became necessary and led to the instant relief of this patient's symptoms. Retrievable vena cava filter removal should be performed in all cases as soon as no longer needed to avoid fatal complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schönleben
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heinz
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020878:Device Removal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D057772:Vascular System Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D016306:Vena Cava Filters / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult