Gunther Tulip Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement During Treatment for Deep Venous Thrombosis of the Lower Extremity

Abstract

The ability of the GTF to protect against pulmonary embolism during treatment of DVT was demonstrated. Safety in both placement and retrieval was clarified. Because replacement with a permanent filter was not required, use of the GTF was convenient when further protection from complicated pulmonary embolism was necessary.

Rates and Predictors of Plans for Inferior Vena Cava Filter Retrieval in Hospitalized Patients

“…The proportion of patients in our study undergoing attempted filter retrieval are lower than studies of trauma patients, [28][29][30] prospective case series to demonstrate IVC filter retrieval feasibility, [13][14][15][16][17][18] and studies examining medical-surgical patients outside the US. [10][11][12] However, our rates are comparable to those obtained at another retrospective single-center study of medical-surgical patients at an academic medical center in the US. 9 Finding thrombus within the IVC filter, the most common complication precluding filter retrieval in our study, has been commonly described in other studies.…”

“…Manufacturers generally recommend retrieval between 10 and 14 days after placement; 8 however, one article described retrievable filters with dwell times ranging from 9 to 150 days. 3 Single-center retrospective studies examining IVC filter retrieval in medical-surgical patients have shown retrieval attempt rates ranging from 14-45%, [9][10][11][12] whereas prospective case series to demonstrate the feasibility of IVC filter retrieval have reported much higher retrieval attempt rates, ranging from 56-99%. [13][14][15][16][17][18] Several studies have examined procedural factors associated with retrieval failure in patients undergoing retrieval, 19,20 but studies have not examined the clinical factors that influence whether or not IVC filter retrieval is attempted.…”

Venous Thromboembolism After Removal of Retrievable Inferior Vena Cava Filters

“…Paralleling the increased usage of retrievable vena cava filters in daily clinical practice, reports of their use have increased [8–14]. However, most published reports have focused on the feasibility and safety of withdrawal of the filter [8–15].…”

The Günther-Tulip Retrievable Filter: A Method for Assessing Tilting of the Filter

“…Among retrievable filters is Günther-Tulip filter which is commonly used as a temporary and/or permanent filter. It has been suggested that significant filter tilt can cause failure or difficulty to remove the Günther-Tulip filter [4][5][6]9]. The reason for the failure to retrieve the filter can be the incorporation of the filter parts into the caval wall, which may or may not be related to filter tilt.…”

“…Percutaneous insertion of these filters is also safe and simple technically like the permanent filter. However, failed attempts to explant the retrievable filters have been reported in the literature [3,4]. Removal of the filter can be difficult or may not be possible when a filter part had penetrated or incorporated into the caval wall, which may be suggested by the tilting of the filter [5,6].…”