A vena cava filter is a medical device that catches clots to prevent them from traveling to the lungs and causing a pulmonary embolism. It is inserted through a minimally invasive procedure and can be left in place permanently or removed if necessary.
A vena cava filter is a medical device that is used to reduce the risk of suffering a pulmonary embolism (PE), an event in which a large clot enters the lungs. Pulmonary emboli can cause serious medical problems, including death, and a number of approaches can be used to make patients less susceptible to PE, including implanting a vena cava filter. If a doctor recommends implantation of such a device, it can be done as an outpatient procedure in a hospital or clinic.
The vena cava is a large vein that carries blood from the lower body to the heart. In patients with bleeding disorders or clots in the lower body, these clots may travel up the vena cava to the lungs and heart, which is not desired. Anticoagulant medications are often used to manage clotting or to break up clots, but these medications don’t always work and some patients are at high risk of PE due to existing clots, in which case a doctor may recommend a vena cava filter .
This medical device looks a bit like an umbrella, with arms that catch clots so they can’t travel back up the vena cava. The filter is usually installed in the inferior vena cava, the part of the vein that runs through the abdomen, and is inserted through a blood vessel in a minimally invasive procedure.
Before inserting the filter, a radiologist injects a contrast medium which is used to determine the best placement. Then, the filter is carefully maneuvered into place and left there. A contrast medium will be injected again to confirm that the vena cava filter is in place correctly. Local anesthetic is usually used for the procedure and the patient may be given anti-anxiety medications to relax. In some cases, general anesthesia may be used for vena cava filter placement.
Many vena cava filters are designed to be left in place permanently. The doctor will check the patient’s condition to confirm that the filter is still working and to make necessary adjustments to the patient’s treatment plan if necessary. Other filters are removable, with a design that can be folded back to insert the filter into a catheter so it can be safely withdrawn from the body. A removable vena cava filter may be used in circumstances where a doctor feels the device will only be needed on a temporary basis, rather than a long-term one.
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