A Clinical Trial of Vena Caval Filters in the Prevention of Pulmonary Embolism in Patients with Proximal Deep-Vein Thrombosis

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 338; no. 7; pp. 409 - 416
• Main Authors: Decousus, Hervé, Leizorovicz, Alain, Parent, Florence, Page, Yves, Tardy, Bernard, Girard, Philippe, Laporte, Silvy, Faivre, René, Charbonnier, Bernard, Barral, Fabrice-Guy, Huet, Yann, Simonneau, Gérald
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 12.02.1998
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Blood vessels; Diseases of the cardiovascular system; Drug therapy; Medical procedures; Medical research; Medical sciences; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Human; Respiratory disease; Treatment efficiency; Instrumentation therapy; Cardiovascular disease; Thrombosis; Venous disease; Vascular disease; Pulmonary embolism; Prevention; Safety factor; Randomization; Filter; Risk factor; Deep vein; Vena cava
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199802123380701

Placing a barrier in the inferior vena cava to prevent pulmonary embolism arising from venous thrombi was first suggested by Trousseau in 1868. 1 The procedure became common after intracaval filters became available in the late 1960s. 2 However, unfractionated heparin followed by oral anticoagulants for three months prevents pulmonary embolism in 95 percent of patients with proximal deep-vein thrombosis. 3 , 4 In these patients, the generally accepted indications for filter placement are therefore restricted to contraindications to or failures of anticoagulant therapy. 5 – 7 The ease of insertion of the new filters by the percutaneous route and the reportedly low complication rates have . . .