title: Endovascular infection following inferior vena cava (IVC) filter insertion.
abstract: Inferior vena cava filter (IVC) placement is increasing significantly. However, due to low retrieval rates, many filters are left in place indefinitely thereby exposing patients to long-term filter-related complications. This study reports a series of three patients with IVC filter infection. Cases were identified during retrospective review of medical records of all patients undergoing an IVC filter insertion at a single tertiary care university hospital between 2009 and 2013. Clinical presentation, radiological features and management are discussed. Two patients presented within days of filter placement, while the other one presented 1 year later. In two patients, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) was found to be a sensitive method to diagnose IVC filter infection. Endovascular infection of IVC filter is a rare event. In patients with IVC filter in place and fever of unknown origin or persistent bacteremia, this complication should be suspected. FDG PET/CT has a diagnostic value in this challenging diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, POB 12000, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Amihai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rottenstreich
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sha'are Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bar-Shalom
authors.affiliation: Interventional Radiology Section, Department of Radiology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Allan I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Bloom
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, POB 12000, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel. ykalish@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yosef
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9533-5775
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kalish
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016306:Vena Cava Filters / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior
keywords: Deep vein thrombosis; Endovascular infection; FDG PET/CT; Inferior vena cava filter; Positron emission tomography–computed tomography; Pulmonary embolism