CIRSE Retrievable IVC Filter Registry Evaluates Results in Practice

December 2, 2015—In CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology, Prof. Michael J. Lee, et al published findings on retrieval success rates with inferior vena cava (IVC) filters in practice from the Cardiovascular Interventional Radiology Society of Europe’s CIRSE retrievable IVC filter registry (2015;38:1502–1507).

The investigators concluded that, based on the CIRSE retrievable IVC filter registry, there was a retrieval rate of 92% across a range of filter types and a low major complication rate, reflecting current practice. They also found an increasing trend of retrievable filter use for relative and prophylactic indications.

As summarized in CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology, CIRSE established the registry primarily to determine the success of IVC filter retrieval and associated complications. Secondary endpoints included filter indications, imaging strategies before retrieval, filter dwell times, and anticoagulation status.

The web-based electronic registry was hosted between December 1, 2010 and June 30, 2012. Data entry occurred at the date of IVC filter retrieval and included items such as filter type, indication for filter insertion, access route, dwell time, retrieval success, complications, reasons for failed retrieval, and anticoagulation status.

There were 671 filter retrievals entered in the CIRSE registry. The patient population included 333 males and 295 females (mean age, 55 years; median age, 57 years). Retrieval data were not entered in 43 of 671 patients, leaving 628 patients for analysis.

The four most commonly used retrievable filters were the Celect (Cook Medical) in 182 patients, the OptEase (Cordis Corporation) in 161 patients, ALN (ALN) in 120 patients, and Günther Tulip (Cook Medical) in 98 patients. Filters were inserted for absolute indications (40%), relative indications (31%), and prophylactic (24%), with 5% missing. Mean filter dwell time was 90 days.

Filters were successfully retrieved in 576 of 628 patients (92%). The mean dwell time for successful retrievals was 85 days versus 145 days for unsuccessful retrievals (P = .001). Major complications occurred in two patients (0.03%), reported the investigators in CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology.