title: Outcomes of Stent Placement for Chronic Occlusion of a Filter-bearing Inferior Vena Cava in Patients with Severe Post-thrombotic Syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the technical aspects and short-term clinical results of stent placement for chronic occlusion of a filter-bearing inferior vena cava (IVC) in patients with severe post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 24 patients with severe PTS associated with occlusion of a filter-bearing IVC treated by stent placement was conducted at a single institution from January 2010 to December 2014. Patient-reported quality of life and limb Villalta scores were evaluated before and after treatment by questionnaire and clinical examination, respectively. Stent patency was evaluated by duplex Doppler ultrasound, venography, or venous computed tomographic (CT) angiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients tolerated the procedure well. Nineteen patients with filter-bearing IVC and bilateral iliofemoral occlusions were treated with "double-barrel" stents, two were treated with fenestrated stents, and the remaining three patients were treated by unilateral stent placement of the iliofemoral vein and filter-bearing IVC. Quality of life and Villalta scores were significantly improved (p < .001) after the procedure. The 1-year, and 2-year cumulative primary and secondary stent patency rates were 67% and 91%, and 45% and 77%, respectively. During a median follow-up period of 27 months (range 3-55 months), the cumulative rates of complete relief of pain (visual analog scale >5) and swelling (grade 3) were 77% (13 of 17 limbs at risk) and 75% (24 of 32 limbs at risk), respectively. There were 23 limbs with active ulcers and the cumulative rate of ulcer healing at 2 years was 73%. There were no cases of clinical bleeding, symptomatic pulmonary embolism, or mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recanalization of an occluded IVC filter and stent placement through the filter is a feasible and safe method for management of PTS associated with filter-bearing IVC occlusions, with acceptable short-term stent patency and clinical results. However, close follow-up after procedure is necessary because of a relatively high re-occlusion rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University, School of Medicine, Vascular Center of Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University, School of Medicine, Vascular Center of Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: luxinwu@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University, School of Medicine, Vascular Center of Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University, School of Medicine, Vascular Center of Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University, School of Medicine, Vascular Center of Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University, School of Medicine, Vascular Center of Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University, School of Medicine, Vascular Center of Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University, School of Medicine, Vascular Center of Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002681:China; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods; D054070:Postthrombotic Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015607:Stents; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014654:Vascular Patency; D016306:Vena Cava Filters; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Filter; Inferior vena cava; Occlusion; Post-thrombotic syndrome; Stent