Intracardiac migration of nitinol TrapEase™ vena cava filter and paradoxical embolism

• Published in: European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery Vol. 22; no. 3; pp. 460 - 461
• Main Authors: Porcellini, Massimo, Stassano, Paolo, Musumeci, Antonino, Bracale, Giancarlo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Science B.V 01.09.2002; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Alloys; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Brachial Artery; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Cardiology. Vascular system; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Embolism; Embolism, Paradoxical - etiology; Filter embolism; Foreign-Body Migration - complications; Foreign-Body Migration - surgery; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial - complications; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial - surgery; Heart Ventricles; Humans; Intracranial Embolism - etiology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Paradoxical; Pulmonary Embolism - therapy; Pulmonary vena cava; Vena Cava Filters - adverse effects; Pulmonary vena cava; Filter embolism; Embolism; Paradoxical; Human; Persistent fetal circulation; Migration; Clinical form; Cardiovascular disease; Instrumentation; Paradoxical embolism; Congenital disease; Artery; Partial occlusion; Arterial disease; Vascular disease; Case study; Heart disease; Surgery; Ostium secundum; Inferior vena cava
• ISSN: 1010-7940; 1873-734X
• DOI: 10.1016/S1010-7940(02)00336-6

The nitinol TrapEase™ inferior vena cava filter is a new device for pulmonary embolism prophylaxis. No cases of filter migration or filter-related complications with this type of device have so far been described. We report a case of intracardiac migration of this filter in a patient with a patent foramen ovale, resulting in severe cardiogenic shock, cerebral and right arm paradoxical embolism. Surgical treatment, results, causes of these complications are discussed.