Interventional Radiology - Technical Note

Internal jugular and common femoral venous access for the removal of a long-term embedded vena cava filter

10.5152/dir.2014.13362

  • Umer Salati
  • Pradeep Govender
  • William Torreggiani
  • Ronan Browne

Received Date: 19.08.2013 Accepted Date: 28.10.2013 Diagn Interv Radiol 2014;20(4):341-344

We describe an inferior vena cava filter retrieval technique requiring triple venous access performed in a 35-year-old male who was referred for filter removal 16 months after its insertion. The filter showed a right-sided tilt with endothelialization of the distal filter struts into the caval wall. Access was required via both internal jugular veins to straighten the filter using a snared-loop technique. Further 18 F right common femoral vein access was required to snare and remove the filter, which could not be completely collapsed distally due to endothelialized tissue, precluding normal removal via the jugular venous route.