Thrombus within an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter reduces filter patency and venous return from the lower extremities, and may progress to complete IVC occlusion. The clinical experiences and outcomes of transcatheter thrombolytic therapy for symptomatic IVC thrombosis following filter implantation have not been widely reported. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficiency and safety of trans-catheter thrombolysis for the treatment of symptomatic IVC thrombosis in patients with implanted IVC filters. Transcatheter thrombolysis was used to treat 5 patients with thrombosis of the filter-bearing IVC causing symptoms in 10 limbs from October 2005 to September 2010. The patients were implanted with a second IVC filter through the right internal jugular vein, followed by recanalization of the occluded IVC and intravenous transcatheter thrombolysis. The IVC filters were retrieved through the femoral or right internal jugular vein after the thrombus had dissolved. Technical and clinical outcome, complications and postoperative pulmonary embolism were monitored. A total of 5 filters were implanted and 6 filters were retrieved later. Technically and clinically successful recanalization and thrombolysis were achieved in 5 of 5 patients and 10 of 10 symptomatic limbs. The median thrombolysis period was 13 days (range, 8–14 days). The median dwell time for the filters that were removed was 50.5 days (range, 14–73 days). No major bleeding occurred during the current study. During clinical follow-up, no clinically detectable pulmonary embolism was observed. Endovascular recanalization and transcatheter thrombolysis of IVC thrombosis are efficient, feasible and safe in the presence of an IVC filter.

Abstract. The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy and safety of interventional treatment for venous vascular complications of malignant tumors. Sixty-one patients with venous vascular complications of malignant tumors were treated from May 2002 to May 2009; 37 men and 24 women with mean age 57.8 years (33-82 years). Lesions included acute deep vein thrombosis (n=18); venous stenosis or occlusion (n=32); tumor embolus in vein (n=11). The interventional therapeutic operations included vena cava filter implantation, transcatheter thrombolytic therapy, recanalization, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and stenting. The success rate of thrombolysis and stent implantation, the clinical success rate, complications, recurrence rate of the treated region and survival duration were recorded. Eighteen patients accepted filter and thrombolytic therapy with a success rate of 100%; total urokinase dosage was 7.42±1.49 (4.5-10) million units. Symptoms disappeared (n=15), were palliated (n=3) and thrombi were completely dissolved (n=2), almost completely dissolved (n=8, >90%), partially dissolved (n=6, 50-90%) and not dissolved (n=2, <50%). No pulmonary embolism emerged after the operation. Forty-three patients accepted recanalization, PTA and stent therapy with a success rate of 95.3% (41/43). Symptoms disappeared (n=25), were palliated (n=16) and did not change (n=2) 3 days following the operation. There were no severe complications during the procedure. During followup, 12 patients again suffered symptoms of venous occlusion and 47 patients died of tumor aggravation without symptom recurrence. As a result, interventional therapy has advantages including smaller injuries, well tolerance, high success rate, quick palliation of symptoms and superior clinical efficacy in the treatment of venous vascular complications for malignant tumors.

ObjectiveTo determine whether the introducer curving technique is useful in decreasing the degree of tilting of transfemoral Tulip filters.Materials and MethodsThe study sample group consisted of 108 patients with deep vein thrombosis who were enrolled and planned to undergo thrombolysis, and who accepted transfemoral Tulip filter insertion procedure. The patients were randomly divided into Group C and Group T. The introducer curving technique was Adopted in Group T. The post-implantation filter tilting angle (ACF) was measured in an anteroposterior projection. The retrieval hook adhering to the vascular wall was measured via tangential cavogram during retrieval.ResultsThe overall average ACF was 5.8 ± 4.14 degrees. In Group C, the average ACF was 7.1 ± 4.52 degrees. In Group T, the average ACF was 4.4 ± 3.20 degrees. The groups displayed a statistically significant difference (t = 3.573, p = 0.001) in ACF. Additionally, the difference of ACF between the left and right approaches turned out to be statistically significant (7.1 ± 4.59 vs. 5.1 ± 3.82, t = 2.301, p = 0.023). The proportion of severe tilt (ACF ≥ 10°) in Group T was significantly lower than that in Group C (9.3% vs. 24.1%, χ2 = 4.267, p = 0.039). Between the groups, the difference in the rate of the retrieval hook adhering to the vascular wall was also statistically significant (2.9% vs. 24.2%, χ2 = 5.030, p = 0.025).ConclusionThe introducer curving technique appears to minimize the incidence and extent of transfemoral Tulip filter tilting.