[The long-term clinical and imaging follow-up of inferior vena cava filters. A cross-sectional study].

We carried out a cross-sectional study to assess morphological findings and incidence of complications in 77 inferior vena cava filters (IVC) implanted in 75 patients between April 1990 and January 1994. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 61 months (mean, 38.5 months) and was carried out by telephone interview, clinical examination, X-rays of the ilium/vena cavum and, in some cases, by Doppler sonogram and computed tomography. Findings revealed IVC thrombosis in 38% of patients, edema in the lower extremities in 63.4%, angling > 15 degrees in 8 patients, defective opening in 4, fibrosis of the vena cava with stenosis in 2 and perforation of the IVC in 3. Although our study shows that the incidence of IVC thrombosis after implantation of filters is higher than suspected, its clinical importance is slight.