Right ventricular migration of a recovery IVC filter's fractured wire with subsequent pericardial tamponade

Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2006 Jul-Aug;29(4):685-6. doi: 10.1007/s00270-005-0136-7.

Abstract

A Recovery filter (C.R. Bard, Tempe, AZ, USA) is a device for pulmonary embolism prophylaxis. There have been few case reports involving the migration of this particular filter or of a broken wire migrating to the heart. We report a case of right ventricular migration of a fractured wire from this filter in a patient who subsequently developed pericardial tamponade and required open heart surgery to extract the fractured wire. We discuss the current US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved nonpermanent inferior vena cava filters and their reported complications. These complications can be life-threatening and may require immediate surgical intervention.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Blood Pressure
  • Cardiac Tamponade / diagnostic imaging
  • Cardiac Tamponade / etiology*
  • Cardiac Tamponade / surgery
  • Equipment Failure
  • Female
  • Foreign-Body Migration* / surgery
  • Heart Ventricles*
  • Humans
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonography
  • Vena Cava Filters / adverse effects*