Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-29-2025

Publication Title

Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effect of establishing an inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) retrieval program (IVCFRP) on the IVCF retrieval rates in trauma and non-trauma patients. METHODS: This was an institutional review board-approved retrospective study. IVCF retrieval in trauma and non-trauma patients was compared before and after the establishment of an IVCFRP in a single Level I Trauma Center. The IVCFRP at our institution was established in April 2020. All patients who underwent IVCF placement between January 2016 and March 2020 were compared with patients who had an IVCF placed between April 2020 and June 2024. A medical record review included the collection of demographic information, indication for IVCF insertion and retrieval, date of IVCF insertion and retrieval, IVCF retrieval rate, clinical outcomes, and complications. The patients were stratified into trauma and non-trauma groups. Univariate analyses were performed with a P value of < 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 164 patients underwent IVCF placement between January 2016 and June 2024. Fifty-two IVCFs were implanted before and 112 after the establishment of the IVCFRP. The overall rate of IVCF retrieval was significantly higher following the establishment of an IVCFRP (33.3% vs. 51%, P = 0.047). In non-trauma patients, the retrieval rate was significantly higher after the establishment of an IVCFRP (37.5% vs. 61.3%, P = 0.03). The retrieval rate in trauma patients (22.2% vs. 21.4%) was not significantly changed by the establishment of an IVCFRP. Clinical outcomes and complications were similar between groups. CONCLUSION: IVCF retrieval rates significantly improved after the establishment of an IVCFRP. This increase in IVCF retrieval rate was driven by an increase in filter retrievals in the non-trauma patient population. The rate of IVCF retrieval in trauma patients was not affected by the implementation of an IVCFRP. Special considerations and changes in practice may need to be established to improve IVCF retrieval rates in trauma patients. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Implementation of a structured IVCFRP significantly improved retrieval rates in non-trauma patients but did not yield similar results in trauma patients, highlighting the need for alternative strategies in this population.

PubMed ID

41020430

Rights

© The Author(s) 2025

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

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