Risk of Adverse Events Seen with Long Term use of Inferior Vena Cava Filters

div itemprop="articleBody" class="article">Washington, DCThe federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reporting that since 2005 it has received 921 adverse event reports involving IVC filters, of which 328 involved device migration, 146 involved embolizations (detachment of device components), 70 involved perforation of the IVC, and 56 involved filter fracture.

The FDA is concerned that these retrievable IVC filters, intended for short-term placement, are not always removed once a patient's risk for PE subsides. Known long term risks associated with IVC filters include but are not limited to lower limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT), filter fracture, filter migration, filter embolization and IVC perforation.

The FDA recommends that implanting physicians and clinicians responsible for the ongoing care of patients with retrievable IVC filters consider removing the filter as soon as protection from PE is no longer needed.