What is inferior vena cava filter placement?
Inferior vena cava filter placement is surgery to place a filter into your inferior vena cava. The inferior vena cava, or IVC, is a large blood vessel found in your abdomen (stomach). It begins at your abdomen, and continues up to your heart, inside your chest. The IVC brings blood from the lower parts of your body back to your heart. During the procedure, a catheter (thin plastic tube) is inserted into the blood vessels in your neck or groin. A doppler ultrasound or fluoroscope (x-ray) is used to guide the catheter into your IVC. The IVC filter is inserted through the catheter and into the IVC where it attaches to the walls of the vein. The catheter is pulled out after the procedure and the filter is left in. What is an inferior vena cava filter? An IVC filter is a specially shaped mesh made of very thin wires. It is placed in the center of the IVC to trap blood clots going to your heart. This helps prevent the blood clots from blocking blood vessels in your lungs and causing serious
