title: Are retrievable vena cava filters placed in trauma patients really retrievable?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Concerns have arisen regarding the use of retrievable inferior vena cava filters (rIVCFs) in trauma patients due to increasing reports of low retrieval rates. We hypothesized that complete follow-up with a dedicated trauma nurse practitioner would be associated with a higher rate of retrievability. This study was undertaken to determine the rate of retrievability of rIVCFs placed in a Canadian Lead Trauma Centre, and to compare the rate of retrievability in our trauma population to our non-trauma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients with rIVCF placed between Jan 1 2000 and June 30 2014. Data were collected on demographics, indication for filter placement, retrieval status, and reasons for non-retrieval. Comparison was made between trauma patients and non-trauma patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 374 rIVCFs were placed (61 in trauma patients and 313 in non-trauma patients) and follow-up was complete for the entire cohort. Filter retrieval was achieved in 86.9 % of trauma patients. Reasons for non-retrieval were technical in two patients, and death before retrieval in six patients. Retrieval was successful in 48.9 % of non-trauma patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that rIVCFs can be successfully retrieved amongst trauma patients. We demonstrated a higher rate of successful retrieval amongst trauma patients than non-trauma patients in our institution. Careful patient follow-up may play a role in successful retrieval of rIVCFs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. rob.leeper@gmail.com.|Division of Critical Care, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada. rob.leeper@gmail.com.
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Leeper
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.|Division of General Surgery, London Health Sciences Centre, Room E2-217, Victoria Hospital, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, ON, N6A 5W9, Canada.
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Leeper
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kribs
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.|Trauma Program, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.|Trauma Program, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada.|Centre for Critical Illness Research, London, ON, Canada.|Division of Critical Care, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Parry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D020878:Device Removal / Q000451:nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016306:Vena Cava Filters; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: DVT prophylaxis; IVC filter; Trauma; Venous thromboembolism