Thrombus-trapping efficiency of the LGM (Vena Tech) and titanium Greenfield filters in vivo.

To assess the trapping efficiency of two vena cava filters, 326 radiopaque thrombi 5 mm in diameter were injected into adult sheep: four with LG-Medical (LGM) and four with titanium Greenfield (TG) filters. Thrombi were sequentially injected and not removed. Trapping was monitored fluoroscopically, and the pressure gradient across the filter was measured. The LGM filter trapped 70% of 5 x 5-mm and 100% of 5 x 10-mm thrombi; the TG, 26% of 5 x 5-mm, 34% of 5 x 10-mm, and 37% of 5 x 30-mm thrombi. The LGM filter required an average of 2.0 mL of trapped thrombus to occlude the filter, compared with 6.4 mL for the TG. These differences were statistically significant. These data indicate that in this model, the LGM filter traps thrombi more efficiently than the TG filter but is more likely to produce caval occlusion.