Usefulness of Inferior Vena Cava Filters in Stable Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism

The Role of IVC Filters in the Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), comprising deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a prevalent cardiovascular condition, ranking third globally after myocardial infarction and stroke. The risk of VTE rises with age, posing a growing concern in aging populations. Acute PE, with its high morbidity and mortality, emphasizes the need for early diagnosis and intervention. This review explores prognostic factors for acute PE, categorizing it into low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk based on hemodynamic stability and right ventricular strain. Timely classification is crucial for triage and treatment decisions. In the contemporary landscape, low-risk PE patients are often treated with Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACS) and rapidly discharged for outpatient follow-up. Intermediate- and high-risk patients may require advanced therapies, such as systemic thrombolysis, catheter-directed thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy, and IVC filter placement. The latter, particularly IVC filters, has witnessed increased usage, with evolving types like retrievable and convertible filters. However, concerns arise regarding complications and the need for timely retrieval. This review delves into the role of IVC filters in acute PE management, addressing their indications, types, complications, and retrieval considerations. The ongoing debate surrounding IVC filter use, especially in patients with less conventional indications, reflects the need for further research and data. Despite complications, recent studies suggest that clinically significant issues are rare, sparking discussions on the appropriate and safe utilization of IVC filters in select PE cases. The review concludes by highlighting current trends, gaps in knowledge, and potential avenues for advancing the role of IVC filters in future acute PE management.

Pulmonary embolism with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common, preventable, and treatable disease. The incidence of COPD is growing annually in China, and it is a significant and growing public health burden. Multivariate analysis showed that COPD was one of the independent risk factors for the occurrence of pulmonary embolism (PE), and the incidence of PE was significantly higher in COPD patients than in normal subjects. However, PE is often overlooked in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) because there are many similarities in clinical symptoms between PE and AECOPD, which are difficult to distinguish, resulting in the failure of timely treatment and poor prognosis. Therefore, it is of great significance to understand the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of COPD combined with PE for making a more accurate diagnosis, providing timely and effective treatment, and improving the prognosis of such patients.

Vena Cava Filters and In-Hospital Case Fatality Among Patients With Pulmonary Embolism: Results From a Large Population-Based Study

In patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE), vena cava filters (VCFs) are currently only recommended when anticoagulant treatment is contraindicated or if VTE has recurred despite adequate anticoagulation. However, evidence on the efficacy of filter in patients with VTE is not compelling. We evaluated potential efficacy of VCF in reducing in-hospital mortality in a large population of patients presenting with a first episode of pulmonary embolism (PE). Patients were collected using regional hospital-discharge databases covering a population of more than 13 million of inhabitants in Northern Italy. For each year of observation, we calculated the proportion of cases with VCF among all PE incident cases. The temporal trend of VCF application during the study period was also derived. The effect of VCF use on in-hospital case-fatality rate was evaluated with a multivariate regression model and with the use of propensity score matching. During the study period (2002-2012), 60 813 patients were hospitalized for a first episode of acute PE. In-hospital case-fatality rate for PE was 13.3%. Vena cava filters were used in 745 (1.22%) patients. The annual use of VCF remained stable from 2002 to 2008, while it progressively decreased afterward. After adjustment for available confounders, case-fatality rate remained significantly lower in patients who received VCF compared to the one registered in patients who did not (odds ratio [OR] 0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.34-0.62). Propensity score matching gave similar results (OR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.30-0.61). Vena cava filters were infrequently used in patients with acute PE. Insertion of VCF appeared to sensibly reduce all-cause in-hospital mortality in this subgroup of patients.