Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Inferior vena cava filters remain controversial

The expanding use of IVC filters has outpaced clinical evidence. Most of the current uses of filters are unsupported by high level evidence. JAMA Medical News and Perspectives has a commentary in the March 1 2006 issue. A concise and rigorous statement on IVC filters from the Thrombosis Interest Group of Canada can be found here.

The use of retrievable filters is appealing although evidence is limited. Of three retrievable filters approved for use in the United States only two remain available; one was removed from the market due to a high rate of complications.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I HAD A IVCF PLACED A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO AND WHEN THEY DECIDED TO REMOVE IT THEY WERE UNABLE TO BECAUSE IT HAD GROWN INTO THE WALL OF THE IVC.HOW COMMON IS THIS AND AM I AT RISK?

Anonymous said...

would u be here to complain had you suffered a massive embolus????