Usefulness of Inferior Vena Cava Filters in Stable Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Abstract

Retrospective cohort studies using administrative data from national databases or a registry suggest that there are subcategories of stable patients with acute pulmonary embolism who would show a reduced mortality with an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter in addition to anticoagulants. These subcategories are those who underwent pulmonary embolectomy, receiving thrombolytic therapy, suffering recurrent pulmonary embolism while on treatment, hospitalized with solid malignant tumors if aged >60 years, hospitalized with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) if aged >50 years, and very elderly (aged >80 years). The following is a review of these studies. It is important to be circumspect in inferring a lower mortality with IVC filters based on comparative effectiveness research that uses national observational data. On the other hand, the likelihood of a randomized controlled trial in any of these subcategories of stable patients is remote. Whether patients are better served by inserting an IVC filter on the basis of retrospective cohort studies, or by withholding IVC filters until a randomized controlled trial can be obtained is a matter for consideration.