Complications associated with strut penetration in Celect filter

Strut penetration associated with Celect filter placement is a known entity. Researchers from the University of Chicago retrospectively evaluated patients who had an abdominal CT performed following Celect filter placement. The present study demonstrated strut penetration rate of 28.5% that was positively associated with indwelling time longer than 100 days. Strut penetration was defined as a filter leg extending >3mm beyond the IVC wall. Despite strut penetration, researchers saw no evidence of associated breakthrough PE or retrieval failure.

Comments:

The analysis of the presence and effects of strut penetration is limited in this study as only a subset of filter recipients had an abdominal CT performed and the true clinical impact of strut penetration was not evaluated. However, the paper is noteworthy demonstrating no association between rate of strut penetration and breakthrough PE, local complication, or retrieval failure.


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Strut penetration in a 44-year-old female patient with back pain. (a) Image from a contrast-enhanced CT shows right hydronephrosis. (b) A more caudal image from the same CT examination demonstrates strut compression of the proximal right ureter (arrow). The filter was successfully removed, and a suprarenal filter was placed. 

Citation: Bos, A. et al. Strut Penetration: Local Complications, Breakthrough Pulmonary Embolism, and Retrieval Failure in Patients with Celect Vena Cava Filters. Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (2014). doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2014.09.010


Post Author: Luke Wilkins, MD