title: Complex Inferior Vena Cava Filter Retrieval Complicated by Migration of Filter Fragment into the Aorta and Subsequent Distal Embolization.
abstract: In 2005, a 48-year-old man with a spinal cord injury had an inferior vena cava filter placed for recurrent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. He was referred for filter retrieval after a computed tomography scan demonstrated caval stenosis and 2 fractured filter arms, 1 in a pulmonary artery and 1 penetrating into the retroperitoneum and impinging on the aorta. During retrieval, 1 arm was inadvertently advanced into the aorta, and embolization of the arm occurred to the left profunda femoris artery. It was subsequently retrieved. This is the first reported case to the authors' knowledge of migration and embolization of a filter fragment into the systemic arterial system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792. Electronic address: eknavel@uwhealth.org.
authors.forename: Erica M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Knavel
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792.
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kleedehn
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792.
authors.forename: Orhan S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792.
authors.forename: Paul F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Laeseke
mesh_terms: D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography; D020878:Device Removal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004617:Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016306:Vena Cava Filters; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging