![Patient With IVC Filter Gets Good News](/images/articles2/operation-room1-article.jpg)
Health Canada's warning came on the heels of 121 serious incident reports concerning the filters, made by six manufacturers. Among the reports were concerns about perforation, thrombosis, filter fracture, migration, and cardiac perforation. The agency noted that because many complications occurred when filters were implanted for longer than 30 days, patients who had a retrievable filter implanted should be identified and medical professionals should develop a strategy to remove the filter.
After his story was aired on CTV, Boehmer was reportedly contacted by Dr. Adnan Hadziomerovic, who has removed approximately 200 filters. Despite Boehmer's being one of the more complicated procedures, the doctor was able to successfully remove the implant without any adverse events. Although Boehmer's implant was successfully removed there are still reportedly patients who have IVC filters implanted who have been told theirs cannot be removed.
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"The use of IVC filters in this population should be reexamined because filter removal rates are low and there is increased risk of morbidity in patients with filters that remain in place," researchers warned.
IVC filters are used to prevent blood clots from reaching a patient's heart or lungs when the patient cannot tolerate anticoagulant therapy.