Filter placement

1. What is IVC filter placement?
2. Where are filters placed?
3. Is IVC filter placement major surgery?
4. What to expect after IVC filter placement?

What is IVC filter placement?

The IVC filter is placed through a small incision in a vein in your groin or neck. A thin, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted into this vein. The catheter is then gently moved into your IVC. A collapsed IVC filter is sent with the catheter. The filter is left in place, and the catheter is removed.

Where are filters placed?

During Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filter placement, a filtering device is placed within the IVC, a large vein in the abdomen that returns blood from the lower half of the body to the heart.

Is IVC filter placement major surgery?

Surgeons can insert an IVC filter through a small incision. This means it's minimally invasive. You don't need major surgery to have IVC filter placement.

What to expect after IVC filter placement?

After the placement of an IVC filter, patients should expect to rest for the next 24 hours at home. Strenuous exercise and alcohol should be avoided during the same length of time. After 24 hours has passed, most patients can resume normal activities, including showering.