Late Gastrointestinal Complications of Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement: Case Report and Literature Review

In current practice, inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are commonly used in the prevention of pulmonary embolism. Despite their widespread use, periprocedural as well as late complications do occur. Filter penetration of the IVC wall into surrounding structures, including bowel, is a known although rare complication. This complication may manifest with abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, duodenocaval fistula, or small bowel obstruction. The authors present a case of abdominal pain from duodenal penetration by a Greenfield IVC filter 13 years after insertion. A detailed operative description and pertinent review of the literature is provided.