Table 2.
Immediate and long-term complications of inferior vena cava filters inserted during pregnancy.
| Type | Position of filter | Name and Type of filter | Filter shape | Number of patients | Outcome | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immediate complication (≤24 h after insertion) | ||||||
| Air embolism | 1 unknown | Greenfield (permanent) | Umbrella | 1 | Maternal death | (53) |
| Misplacement of filter (iliac vein) |
1 infrarenal | Celect or ALN or Günther Tulip (retrievable) | Umbrella | 1 | Unsuccessful filter retrieval | (13) |
| Allergic reaction | 1 suprarenal | Neuhaus Protect (retrievable) | Spindle | 1 | Fully recovered | (11) |
| Long-term complication (days to months after insertion) | ||||||
| Filter tilt | 3 infrarenal 2 suprarenal 1 suprarenal |
3 Günther Tulip (retrievable) 2 OptEase (retrievable) 1 Recovery (retrievable) |
Umbrella Spindle Umbrella |
6 | Unsuccessful filter retrieval: 3 Successful filter retrieval: 3 | (37, 39, 57) |
| Filter migration | 1 infrarenal 1 suprarenal 1 suprarenal 2 suprarenal |
Recovery (retrievable) Neuhaus Protect (retrievable) Tempofilter (retrievable) ALN (retrievable) |
Umbrella Spindle Umbrella Umbrella |
5 ¥ | Unsuccessful filter retrieval: 2 Successful filter retrieval: 3 |
(11, 23, 32, 35, 57) |
| Filter thrombosis including thrombus captured in filter | 1 Unknown 2 infrarenal 1 infrarenal (death) + 1 suprarenal 4 suprarenal 1 suprarenal 1 suprarenal 2 suprarenal 1 suprarenal |
Neuhaus Protect (retrievable) Neuhaus Protect (retrievable) Celect or ALN or Günther Tulip (retrievable) Unknown Neuhaus Protect (retrievable) Antheor (retrievable) OptEase (retrievable) Greenfield (permanent) |
Spindle Spindle Umbrella Spindle Spindle Umbrella Umbrella |
14 § | Maternal death: 1* Pulmonary embolism: 1 | (12, 13, 17, 18, 20, 41, 54, 58, 61) |
| Filter fracture | 1 Unknown 1 infrarenal 1 suprarenal |
Neuhaus Protect (retrievable) Recovery (retrievable) Recovery (retrievable) |
Spindle Umbrella Umbrella | 3 | Unsuccessful retrieval of the filter fragment: 2 | (32, 57, 79) |
| Vena cava perforation |
1 infrarenal 1 suprarenal |
Greenfield (permanent) Celect (retrievable) |
Umbrella Umbrella |
2 | Unsuccessful filter retrieval: 1 Leading to retroperitoneal haematoma: 1 |
(8, 80) |
¥
Localization of filter migration: right atrium = 2 (one migration to the right atrium resulting in premature ventricular contractions), renal vein = 1, caudal migration = 2.
*
Maternal death as a result of catastrophic anti-phospholipid syndrome.
§
captured thrombi > 1 cm was observed in 4 cases.