Long-Term Safety and Effectiveness of the 'OptEase' Vena Cava Filter

Journal Article · Fri Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/S00270-010-9969-9· OSTI ID:21608710

Marentis, Theodore C ^[1]; Yeddula, Kalpana; Somarouthu, Bhanusupriya; Wicky, Stephan ^[2]; Stecker, Michael S ^[3]

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1. Harvard Medical School Boston, Department of Radiology (United States)
2. Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Radiology (United States)
3. Brigham's Women's Hospital, Department of Radiology (United States)

Purpose: To assess the long-term safety and effectiveness of the OptEase inferior vena cava (IVC) filter. Materials and Methods: In this Institutional Review Board-approved, retrospective study, we reviewed data of 71 patients who received an OptEase filter at our institution from 2002 to 2007. Thirty-nine (55%) patients had symptoms of venous thromboembolism before filter placement. The indications for filter included contraindication to anticoagulation in 31 (44%) patients, prophylaxis against pulmonary embolism (PE) in 29 (41%) patients, and failure of anticoagulation in 11 (15%) patients. Procedure-related complications, such as symptomatic post-filter PE, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), IVC occlusion, and incidental imaging-evident filter-related complications, were recorded. Safety was assessed by the occurrence of filter-related complications during placement and follow-up. Effectiveness was assessed by the occurrence of post-filter PE. Results: Sixty-five (92%) filters were placed under fluoroscopy, and 6 (8%) were placed using intravascular ultrasound guidance. Seventy (99%) filters were placed successfully. Seven (10%) filters were placed in the suprarenal cava. Retrieval was attempted in 14 (20%) patients, and 12 filters were successfully retrieved. Clinical follow-up was available for 20 {+-} 21 months. Symptoms of postfilter PE and DVT occurred in 15% (n = 11) and 10% (n = 7) patients, respectively. None of these patients had computed tomography (CT)-proven PE, and only one had ultrasound-proven new DVT. One patient had symptomatic IVC occlusion. Follow-up abdominal CT in 20 patients showed thrombus in the filter in two of them. There were no instances of filter migration, filter tilt, or caval wall penetration. Conclusion: The OptEase filter appears to have an acceptable long-term safety profile. The filter was effective against PE.

• OSTI ID: 21608710
• Journal Information: Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, Journal Name: Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 34; ISSN 0174-1551; ISSN CAIRDG
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
BLOOD VESSELS
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
FAILURES
FILTERS
FLUOROSCOPY
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PATIENTS
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
RADIOLOGY
SAFETY
SYMPTOMS
THROMBOSIS
TOMOGRAPHY
VASCULAR DISEASES
VEINS