IVC Filter Implantation is a minimally invasive procedure designed to prevent life-threatening blood clots from traveling to the lungs. If you’re at risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE), an Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filter can provide critical protection by catching and stopping clots before they reach the lungs.
The IVC filter is a small, cone-shaped device that is placed in the inferior vena cava, the large vein that carries blood from the lower body back to the heart. The filter acts like a sieve, trapping large blood clots that may form in the legs (DVT) and preventing them from traveling to the lungs, where they could cause a potentially deadly pulmonary embolism.
Doctors recommend IVC filter implantation for patients who are at high risk of developing blood clots but cannot take blood-thinning medications, or for those who develop clots despite using these medications. Common reasons include:
The procedure is quick, minimally invasive, and typically performed under local anesthesia. Using X-ray guidance, a doctor inserts a small catheter into a vein, usually in the neck or groin, and places the IVC filter into the inferior vena cava. The filter immediately begins working to trap clots.
