Intravascular ultrasound-guided bedside placement of inferior vena cava filters

Abstract

Pulmonary emboli in a critically ill patient population is an occurrence that may be reduced with appropriate utilization of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters. Complications both during transfer or transport of critically ill patients who are dependent upon multiple intravenous drips, ventilators and intensive monitoring may be reduced with bedside placement of inferior vena cava filters. Over the last decade, investigators have been developing techniques for bedside IVC filter placement based on intravascular ultrasound techniques. We discuss and detail a single venous access technique of IVC filter placement using intravascular ultrasound.