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UCLA IVC Filter Clinic

UCLA IVC Filter Clinic

UCLA IVC Filter Clinic
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  • About Us
  • Conditions Treated
    • Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
    • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
    • IVC Occlusion
    • IVC Thrombosis
    • IVC Filter Fracture
    • IVC Filter Migration
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    • IVC Filter Placement
    • IVC Filter Removal
    • Advanced Filter Removal Techniques
    • Clot Removal
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UCLA IVC Filter Clinic

Treatments & Procedures

Treatments & Procedures

Treatments & Procedures

  • IVC Filter Placement
  • IVC Filter Removal
  • Advanced Filter Removal Techniques
  • Clot Removal
  • IVC Filter Placement
  • IVC Filter Removal
  • Advanced Filter Removal Techniques
  • Clot Removal
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  4. IVC Filter Placement

IVC Filter Placement

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Treatment for:

DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and/or PE (pulmonary embolism)

 

Why it’s done:

DVT and PE are typically treated with anticoagulation (blood thinners). If blood thinners cannot be used, or are not effective, then a filter may be placed in the large vein which drains blood from the legs (the IVC, or inferior vena cava). The filter traps clots coming up from the legs, preventing potentially deadly clot passage into the lungs (PE).

Inferior-Vena-Cava-Filter-Placement-Removal-original.png

 

How it’s done:

An interventional radiologist uses ultrasound to access the jugular vein at the neck, or the femoral vein at the groin. Contrast dye is injected to determine size and anatomy of the IVC. The filter is then deployed at the appropriate position in the IVC, where small hooks affix it to the wall.

 

Level of anesthesia:

Conscious sedation

 

Risks:

Bleeding, infection, migration of the filter and fracture of the filter can rarely occur. Clot can form in the filter or below the filter, sometimes enough to completely occlude the IVC or the veins below the IVC.

 

Post-procedure:

Two to four hours of bed rest to prevent bleeding at the access site.

 

Follow-up:

Most IVC filters are retrievable. Once the filter is no longer needed, contact your interventional radiologist to arrange removal of the filter.

 

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