Vena cava filters: why, when, what, how?

Pulmonary emboli, a potentially lethal venous thromboembolic complication, is a potentially preventable morbidity or mortality that surgeons should consider in the perioperative period or in high-risk patients. Prophylactic inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement offers a high protection rate against fatal pulmonary emboli. This manuscript discusses the indications for filter placement, different types of currently available IVC filters, and problems and complications of filter placement and vena cava filters. Optional or retrievable IVC filters are also discussed. Overall, individual patient's clinical risks and benefits should be considered before vena cava filter placement. The new generation of optional filters may offer clinicians a new option of temporal risk reduction without the long-term complications that can be associated with permanent IVC filters.