Arteriovenous Fistula-A Rare Complication of IVC Filter Retrieval

Perforation of the Heart During Elective Removal of an Inferior Vena Cava Filter

ABSTRACT

A common treatment for venous thromboembolic disease in patients with contraindications to anticoagulation includes placement of an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter. Temporary filters are available to avoid the risk of long-term permanent placement. A woman in her 60s with a history of uterine serous carcinoma presented to the emergency department with cardiac arrest following elective attempted IVC filter removal. Three months prior, a temporary filter was placed because anticoagulation medication was stopped in preparation for a hysterectomy. During the IVC retrieval procedure, which was performed using an intravascular approach from the right jugular vein, the filter was tilted, requiring the use of a different retrieval sheath. During catheter reentry, the patient complained of discomfort in the chest and neck, after which she became hypotensive, lost consciousness, and died. Autopsy revealed 2 cardiac perforations, one in each ventricle. Approximately 600 mL of liquid and clotted blood was within the tense pericardial sac. An IVC filter was found in place, with no adjacent hemorrhage.To our knowledge, this is the first reported fatality due to cardiac perforation by an access sheath during intravascular removal of an IVC filter. This instance also documents the time course of the cardiac perforations to the resultant loss of consciousness.

The development of a novel endovascular grasper for challenging inferior vena cava filter retrieval

OBJECTIVE

Although inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are commonly retrieved using a snare, lateral tilt and fibrosis around struts can complicate the procedure and sometimes require the use of off-label devices. We describe the development of a novel articulating endovascular grasper designed to remove permanent and retrievable IVC filters in any configuration.

METHODS

For in vitro testing, the IVC filters were anchored to the inner wall of a flexible tube in a centered or tilted configuration. A high-contrast backlit camera view simulated the two-dimensional fluoroscopy projection during retrieval. The time from the retrieval device introduction into the camera field to complete filter retrieval was measured in seconds. The control experiment involved temporary IVC filter retrieval with a snare. There were four comparative groups: (1) retrievable filter in centered configuration; (2) retrievable filter in tilted configuration; (3) permanent filter in centered configuration; and (4) permanent filter in tilted configuration. Every experiment was repeated five times, with median retrieval time compared with the control group. For in vivo testing in a porcine model, six tilted infrarenal IVC filters were retrieved with grasper via right jugular approach. Comparison analysis between animal and patient procedures was performed for the following variables: total procedure time, the retrieval time, and fluoroscopy time.

RESULTS

The in vitro experiments showed comparable retrieval times between the experimental groups 1, 2, and 4 and the control. However, grasper removal of a centered permanent filter (group 3) required significantly less time than in the control (29 vs 79 seconds; P = .009). In the animal model, all IVC filters were retrieved using the grasper with no adverse events. The total procedure time (21.2 vs 43.5 minutes; P = .01) and the fluoroscopy time (4.3 vs 10 minutes; P = .044) were significantly shorter in the animal model compared with the patient group. Moreover, in the patient group, 16.7% of retrievals required advanced endovascular techniques, and one IVC filter could not be retrieved (success rate = 91.7%), whereas all the IVC filters were successfully retrieved in the animal model without the use of additional tools.

CONCLUSIONS

The novel endovascular grasper is effective in retrieving different types of IVC filters in different configurations and compared favorably with the snare in the in vitro model. In vivo experiments demonstrated more effective retrieval when compared with matched patient retrievals.

Effect of access site choice on inferior vena cava filter angulation and outcomes

BACKGROUND

In the present study, we compared the outcomes of inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement between the femoral vein (FV) and internal jugular (IJ) vein access sites.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study using the Vascular Quality Initiative database to assess patients who had undergone IVC filter placement from 2013 to 2019. The patients were placed into two groups according to the access site location: FV and IJ vein. The FV group included patients with access via the right and left FVs and other leg veins, and the IJ group included patients with access via the right or left IJ vein. The primary outcome was the rate of filter angulation. The secondary outcomes included access site complications such as deep vein thrombosis, hematoma, and bleeding requiring transfusion.

RESULTS

Of 13,221 patients, 8214 (63%) had undergone IVC filter placement via FV access and 4789 (37%) via IJ access. The remaining 218 patients had had an unknown access site or were excluded. Within the IJ group, 4696 (98.0%) had undergone access via the right IJ and 93 (2%) via the left IJ. Within the FV (common femoral, femoral, or other infrainguinal veins) group, 7007 (85.3%) had undergone access via the right FV and 1207 (14.6%) via the left FV. The mean patient age was 63 ± 15.9 years, the mean body mass index was 30.9 ± 9.60 kg/m², and 6788 of the patients were men (52.0%). The most common indication for filter placement was a contraindication to anticoagulation because of a recent or active bleeding episode (30%), followed by planned surgery (22%), new deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism (7%), fall risk (5%), and trauma (4%). Infrarenal filters had been placed in 97.9% of the patients. Univariate analysis identified body mass index and suprarenal placement as independent risk factors for angulation. The final multivariate analysis showed a significant increase in angulation (0.9% vs 0.34%; odds ratio, 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-2.11; P = .04) and increased access site complications (0.25% vs 0.07%; odds ratio, 2.068; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-4.23; P = .048) in the FV access group. No significant correlation between the access site and retrieval rate was found (P = .9270).

CONCLUSIONS

Placement of IVC filters via IJ access showed a lower rate of filter angulation in the IVC and fewer access site complications compared with FV access.

Classification System for Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Appearance Following Percutaneous IVC Filter Retrieval

OBJECTIVE

There is no classification system for describing inferior vena cava (IVC) injuries. The objective of this study was to develop a standardized grading system for venographic appearance of the IVC following percutaneous IVC filter retrieval.

METHODS

A classification system for the appearance of the IVC on cavograms following percutaneous IVC filter removal was developed consisting of two grading elements; luminal characteristics and extravasation. Luminal narrowing from 0% up to 50% from any cause is grade 1; narrowing between 50 and 99% is grade 2; occlusion is grade 3; and avulsion is grade 4. Absence of extravasation is grade A, contained extravasation is grade B, and free extravasation is grade C. This system was then applied retrospectively to pre- and post-IVC filter retrieval cavograms performed at a single institution from October 2004 through February 2019.

RESULTS

546 retrieval attempts were identified with 509 (93.2%) filters successfully retrieved. 449 cases (88.2%) had both pre-retrieval and post-retrieval imaging appropriate for application of the proposed classification system. Inter-rater reliability was 0.972 for luminal characteristics, 0.967 for extravasation, and 0.969 overall. Consensus grading demonstrated a distribution of 97.3% grade 1, 1.3% grade 2, 1.3% grade 3, and 0.0% grade 4 for post-retrieval luminal characteristics. For extravasation classification, 96.4% of the cases were classified as grade A, 2.7% grade B, and 0.9% grade C.

CONCLUSION

A classification system was developed for describing IVC appearance after IVC filter retrieval, and retrospectively validated using a single center dataset.

Cardiac Tamponade Secondary to IVC Filter Retrieval

Cardiac tamponade is a rare but potentially fatal complication of inferior vena cava filter retrieval. We discuss such a case to facilitate prompt recognition and prevention of this complication by medical providers. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.)

Procedural complications of inferior vena cava filter retrieval, an illustrated review

Annually, approximately 65,000 inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are placed in the United States (Ahmed et al., J Am Coll Radiol 15:1553-1557, 2018). Approximately 35% of filters are eventually retrieved (Angel et al., J Vasc Interv Radiol 22: 1522-1530 e1523, 2011). Complications during filter retrieval depend heavily on technique and filter position. In this paper, we review risk factors and incidence of complications during IVC filter removal. We also discuss ways these complications could be avoided and the appropriate management if they occur.