Clinical Efficacy And Safety Of A New Inferior Vena Cava Filter Retrieving Technique Using 9-Fr Long Sheath Combined With Memorable Alloy Trap

Background: Anticoagulant therapy is the first choice for venous thromboembolism (VTE), and the inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is implanted when the anticoagulant therapy fails or the anticoagulation contraindications exist. The retrieving of IVC filter is very important in the treatment. This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of a new inferior vena cava filter retrieving technique using 9-Fr long sheath combined with memorable alloy trap. Methods: Thirty-four VTE patients who were implanted with Cook Celect/Gunther Tulip retrievable IVC filters were enrolled. They were divided into conventional retrieving group (20 cases) and long sheath + trap group (14 cases), which received the filter retrieving using the Cook MReye filter retrieving system and using 9-Fr long sheath combined with memorable alloy trap, respectively. The duration of filter in body, duration of filter retrieving surgery, radiation exposure time, intraoperative/postoperative adverse events, length of hospitalization, and treatment cost were recorded and compared in two groups. Results: The success rate of filter retrieving surgery was 100% in each group. The duration of filter retrieving surgery in long sheath + trap group was 29.36 +/- 10.72 minutes, which was significantly shorter than 39.45 +/- 15.94 minutes in conventional retrieving group (P < 0.05). The radiation exposure time in long sheath + trap group was 8.43 +/- 1.40 minutes, which was significantly shorter than 11.80 +/- 2.14 minutes in the conventional retrieving group (P < 0.01). The treatment cost in long sheath + trap group was 10126.79 +/- 1612.17 yuan, which was significantly lower than 12226.50 +/- 1182.72 yuan in conventional retrieving group (P < 0.05). There was no serious adverse event in surgery or postoperative follow-up in each group. Conclusion: The technique using 9-Fr long sheath combined with memorable alloy trap is a safe, effective and economical method for IVC filter retrieving and can be applied in the clinic.