Vena Cava Filter
When a blood thinner cannot be used or does not adequately treat a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), your cardiologist may place a filter in the vena cava (the large vein in the abdomen) to trap blood clots and prevent them from traveling to your lungs. The filter is inserted through a catheter placed into your leg, arm or neck vein.
Related Resources
- Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement: English | Spanish
- Inferior Vena Cava Filter Retrieval: English | Spanish
- Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filter Retrieval with the Endovascular Laser Sheath