Inferior Vena Caca Filter Romoval
What You Need to Know:
Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter removal is a procedure to remove your IVC filter. Your IVC filter is usually removed when your risk for a blood clot has decreased. You may be able to take blood thinner medicine and no longer need a filter.
Your healthcare provider will insert a catheter (thin plastic tube) into a blood vessel in your neck or groin. An ultrasound or x-ray will be used to guide the catheter to your IVC filter. The hook at the tip of the catheter will attach to the filter and remove it from the walls of your IVC. Your healthcare provider will pull the catheter and the filter out together. To stop any bleeding, firm pressure will be placed on the area where the catheter went in. After a few minutes, your healthcare provider will put a bandage on the area.
Overall, IVC filter placement and removal are well-tolerated procedures that require little downtime. As with any medical procedure, there are risks of complications. Although rare, damage to the blood vessel, bruising, bleeding or infection at the puncture site is possible. Your care team will discuss any possible risks with you prior to your procedure.
Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters have a high rate of success in reducing the risk of pulmonary embolisms, or blood clots traveling from the legs to the heart or lungs. As a minimally invasive procedure, IVC filter placement and removal offer numerous benefits, including smaller incisions, faster recovery time, lower risk of complications, the use of a sedative instead of general anesthesia, so patients can go home the same day.
