Ivc Filter?

[lil4heartz 3]

I got approval for surgery but waiting for date, bc vascular and bariatric surgeon have to coordinate. Has anyone gotten this? Was the removal of the filter difficult?

[sssehol 2]

Hi there. Are you talking about the clot catcher filter? I was just diagnosed with a DVT last week and am still pre-surgery. Do you have a DVT?

[lil4heartz 3]

Yes, I have a history of DVT after surgeries in the past. Their going to put it in while their doing surgery on 16th. They take it out 2 weeks after surgery.

[sssehol 2]

I am sure that is a big relief for you! I do not know yet whether they will offer it to me. I need to do some research. I am still overwhelmed by my diagnosis.

How do they remove the filter?

[CaliKat 153]

its a pretty easy install & removal.

I believe they go thru the correted artery (neck one) and insert via a long "tube" using local anestesia a few days before the surgery.

they keep it in there until most of the risk has passed a few weeks after surgery and its a quick local anestesia removal.

my cardiologist said it was pretty routine if you have history of clots and is minimally invasive. You cant really see it or feel it.

Also- in the long run its cheaper cause you dont have to do hepprin shots as often.

[cookies 56]

With mine, I had my surgery to put in the IVC filter a week before my surgery. It went in through an incision in my groin. I was put under anesthesia in a surgical suite for that procedure, but just the kind that they inject into your veins, no tube down your throat and all that.

The removal was through my neck in a radiology suite. Well, the attempted removal was through my neck. They put in the contrast to look at the filter and found a clot in it...so now I have to wait until the clot is dissolved by meds to have another removal attempt. I was just under a relaxer and painkiller for that one. Other than the lidocain (sp?) shot to numb the area it was basically painless. You have to be awake so that you can hold your breath when they put in the contrast to get a clear picture. The worst part was trying to get my fat ass from the stretcher onto that tiny operating table slab...lol.

[Lissa 2,631]

My experience was similar to cookies' except that I didn't have to have mine installed or removed through my neck (thank goodness). Both were done through an incision in my groin. Mine did catch a clot, but I didn't have to wait for them to pull the filter. Some surgeons are more cautious than others.

I felt no pain and it was relatively quick. The worst part for me was being forced to keep the knee straight and lay still after both procedures.