What is the purpose of a vena cava filter?
The purpose of a vena cava filter is to prevent a blood clot from potentially traveling to the lungs. A thrombus clot traveling to the lungs is called a pulmonary embolism (PE). A thrombus in the deep venous system (the part of the circulation that brings blood back to the heart) represents a disorder of normal hemostasis (the normal clotting of blood). Insertion of a vena cava filter is indicated for patients who: • cannot receive medications that can dissolve the clot (anticoagulation therapy) • have a thrombus in a deeply situated vein • experiance complication of anticoagulation therapy such as bleeding • experiance failure of anticoagulation therapy to prevent pulmonary embolism • have an embolus in the lungs (pulmonary embolectomy) removed • have a recurrent embolism while receiving adequate medications • have significant bleeding complications during anticoagulation Source: The Gale Group.
