Having Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filter Placement

An inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is a small device that can stop blood clots from going up into the lungs. The inferior vena cava is a large vein in the middle of your body. The device is put in during a short surgery.

What to tell your healthcare provider

Tell your healthcare provider all the medicines you take. This includes over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin. Before the procedure, make sure to tell the medical team if you:

• Have had any recent changes in your health, such as a fever.
• Are pregnant or might be pregnant.
• Have ever had a problem with anesthesia. 

Tests before your procedure

You may need some tests before the procedure. These are to look at your health. Your doctor can tell you more if you need tests. 

Getting ready for your procedure

• Talk with your healthcare provider about the type of IVC filter that you will have.
• Some filters can be taken out when your risk of DVT is lower. Others are meant to stay in your IVC permanently.
• Talk with your healthcare provider about how to get ready for your procedure.
• You may need to stop taking some medicines ahead of time such as blood thinners.
• If you smoke, you will need to stop before your procedure.
• Talk with your healthcare provider if you need help to stop smoking.
• Do not eat or drink after midnight the night before your procedure or as directed by your healthcare provider.
• Arrange to have an adult family member or friend available to take you home after your procedure. 

On the day of your procedure

Talk with your healthcare provider about what to expect during your procedure. It usually takes about an hour. The procedure is done by a vascular surgeon or an interventional radiologist and a team of specialized nurses. A typical procedure may involve the following:

• An intravenous (IV) line will be put in your arm or hand before the procedure starts. You will be given sedation through the IV line. This will make you relaxed and sleepy during procedure.
• Hair in the area of your procedure may be removed. The area may be numbed with a local anesthetic.
• Your doctor will make a small incision in this region to access a major vein leading to the IVC.
• A long thin tube (catheter) will be inserted into this vein.
• Your doctor will use continuous x-rays (fluoroscopy) to see the catheter as it advances into the IVC. Contrast dye may be injected through the catheter to show the IVC more clearly on the x-rays.
• Your doctor will release the filter into the IVC. Here, the filter will expand and attach itself to the walls of your IVC.
• Your doctor will then remove the catheter.
• Your doctor will close the incision on your neck or groin and place a dressing on it. 

After your procedure

• After the procedure you will spend several hours in a post anesthesia care unit (PACU). You may be sleepy and maybe confused when you wake up.
• Your healthcare team will watch your vital signs such as your blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. The catheter insertion site will be evaluated for bleeding.
• You will be given pain medicine if you are having pain or discomfort.
• You may have a headache or nausea, but these symptoms should go away quickly.
• You may be able to go home the same day. Your healthcare provider will tell you more about what to expect.
• When you are ready to go home, you will need to have a family member or friend accompany you home. 

Recovering at home

• Follow all of your healthcare provider’s instructions. This includes any advice about medicines, exercise and wound care.
• You may have some pain after the procedure. You can take over-the-counter pain medicines if you are having pain or whatever was prescribed.
• You may notice a bruise where the catheter was inserted. Get some rest and avoid strenuous exercise for at least 24 hours. 

Follow-up care

• Make sure to keep all of your follow-up appointments. You will need continued monitoring after your treatment.
• You may need follow-up imaging tests to make sure your filter is still in the correct place.
• If you have the type of IVC filter that can be removed, you may have a similar procedure in the future to remove the device when your risk of DVT has lessened.
• In some cases, a removable filter is left in place. This may happen if scar tissue grows around the filter and it cannot be removed.

Having Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filter Placement

An inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is a small device that can stop blood clots from going up into the lungs. The inferior vena cava is a large vein in the middle of your body. The device is put in during a short surgery.

What to tell your healthcare provider

Tell your healthcare provider all the medicines you take. This includes over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin. Before the procedure, make sure to tell the medical team if you:

• Have had any recent changes in your health, such as a fever.
• Are pregnant or might be pregnant.
• Have ever had a problem with anesthesia. 

Tests before your procedure

You may need some tests before the procedure. These are to look at your health. Your doctor can tell you more if you need tests. 

Getting ready for your procedure

• Talk with your healthcare provider about the type of IVC filter that you will have.
• Some filters can be taken out when your risk of DVT is lower. Others are meant to stay in your IVC permanently.
• Talk with your healthcare provider about how to get ready for your procedure.
• You may need to stop taking some medicines ahead of time such as blood thinners.
• If you smoke, you will need to stop before your procedure.
• Talk with your healthcare provider if you need help to stop smoking.
• Do not eat or drink after midnight the night before your procedure or as directed by your healthcare provider.
• Arrange to have an adult family member or friend available to take you home after your procedure. 

On the day of your procedure

Talk with your healthcare provider about what to expect during your procedure. It usually takes about an hour. The procedure is done by a vascular surgeon or an interventional radiologist and a team of specialized nurses. A typical procedure may involve the following:

• An intravenous (IV) line will be put in your arm or hand before the procedure starts. You will be given sedation through the IV line. This will make you relaxed and sleepy during procedure.
• Hair in the area of your procedure may be removed. The area may be numbed with a local anesthetic.
• Your doctor will make a small incision in this region to access a major vein leading to the IVC.
• A long thin tube (catheter) will be inserted into this vein.
• Your doctor will use continuous x-rays (fluoroscopy) to see the catheter as it advances into the IVC. Contrast dye may be injected through the catheter to show the IVC more clearly on the x-rays.
• Your doctor will release the filter into the IVC. Here, the filter will expand and attach itself to the walls of your IVC.
• Your doctor will then remove the catheter.
• Your doctor will close the incision on your neck or groin and place a dressing on it. 

After your procedure

• After the procedure you will spend several hours in a post anesthesia care unit (PACU). You may be sleepy and maybe confused when you wake up.
• Your healthcare team will watch your vital signs such as your blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. The catheter insertion site will be evaluated for bleeding.
• You will be given pain medicine if you are having pain or discomfort.
• You may have a headache or nausea, but these symptoms should go away quickly.
• You may be able to go home the same day. Your healthcare provider will tell you more about what to expect.
• When you are ready to go home, you will need to have a family member or friend accompany you home. 

Recovering at home

• Follow all of your healthcare provider’s instructions. This includes any advice about medicines, exercise and wound care.
• You may have some pain after the procedure. You can take over-the-counter pain medicines if you are having pain or whatever was prescribed.
• You may notice a bruise where the catheter was inserted. Get some rest and avoid strenuous exercise for at least 24 hours. 

Follow-up care

• Make sure to keep all of your follow-up appointments. You will need continued monitoring after your treatment.
• You may need follow-up imaging tests to make sure your filter is still in the correct place.
• If you have the type of IVC filter that can be removed, you may have a similar procedure in the future to remove the device when your risk of DVT has lessened.
• In some cases, a removable filter is left in place. This may happen if scar tissue grows around the filter and it cannot be removed.

Having Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filter Placement

An inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is a small device that can stop blood clots from going up into the lungs. The inferior vena cava is a large vein in the middle of your body. The device is put in during a short surgery.

What to tell your healthcare provider

Tell your healthcare provider all the medicines you take. This includes over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin. Before the procedure, make sure to tell the medical team if you:

• Have had any recent changes in your health, such as a fever.
• Are pregnant or might be pregnant.
• Have ever had a problem with anesthesia. 

Tests before your procedure

You may need some tests before the procedure. These are to look at your health. Your doctor can tell you more if you need tests. 

Getting ready for your procedure

• Talk with your healthcare provider about the type of IVC filter that you will have.
• Some filters can be taken out when your risk of DVT is lower. Others are meant to stay in your IVC permanently.
• Talk with your healthcare provider about how to get ready for your procedure.
• You may need to stop taking some medicines ahead of time such as blood thinners.
• If you smoke, you will need to stop before your procedure.
• Talk with your healthcare provider if you need help to stop smoking.
• Do not eat or drink after midnight the night before your procedure or as directed by your healthcare provider.
• Arrange to have an adult family member or friend available to take you home after your procedure. 

On the day of your procedure

Talk with your healthcare provider about what to expect during your procedure. It usually takes about an hour. The procedure is done by a vascular surgeon or an interventional radiologist and a team of specialized nurses. A typical procedure may involve the following:

• An intravenous (IV) line will be put in your arm or hand before the procedure starts. You will be given sedation through the IV line. This will make you relaxed and sleepy during procedure.
• Hair in the area of your procedure may be removed. The area may be numbed with a local anesthetic.
• Your doctor will make a small incision in this region to access a major vein leading to the IVC.
• A long thin tube (catheter) will be inserted into this vein.
• Your doctor will use continuous x-rays (fluoroscopy) to see the catheter as it advances into the IVC. Contrast dye may be injected through the catheter to show the IVC more clearly on the x-rays.
• Your doctor will release the filter into the IVC. Here, the filter will expand and attach itself to the walls of your IVC.
• Your doctor will then remove the catheter.
• Your doctor will close the incision on your neck or groin and place a dressing on it. 

After your procedure

• After the procedure you will spend several hours in a post anesthesia care unit (PACU). You may be sleepy and maybe confused when you wake up.
• Your healthcare team will watch your vital signs such as your blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. The catheter insertion site will be evaluated for bleeding.
• You will be given pain medicine if you are having pain or discomfort.
• You may have a headache or nausea, but these symptoms should go away quickly.
• You may be able to go home the same day. Your healthcare provider will tell you more about what to expect.
• When you are ready to go home, you will need to have a family member or friend accompany you home. 

Recovering at home

• Follow all of your healthcare provider’s instructions. This includes any advice about medicines, exercise and wound care.
• You may have some pain after the procedure. You can take over-the-counter pain medicines if you are having pain or whatever was prescribed.
• You may notice a bruise where the catheter was inserted. Get some rest and avoid strenuous exercise for at least 24 hours. 

Follow-up care

• Make sure to keep all of your follow-up appointments. You will need continued monitoring after your treatment.
• You may need follow-up imaging tests to make sure your filter is still in the correct place.
• If you have the type of IVC filter that can be removed, you may have a similar procedure in the future to remove the device when your risk of DVT has lessened.
• In some cases, a removable filter is left in place. This may happen if scar tissue grows around the filter and it cannot be removed.