Clinical Presentation

The patient is a 53-year-old woman status post-knee replacement 8 weeks ago.

Case images on the previous page show removal of a Gunther Tulip (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN) filter. Cavagram obtained before removal shows no intraluminal thrombus. The hook of the filter was successfully captured with a snare, the filter was resheathed, and a cavagram obtained after removal shows no caval rupture. Some permanent filters include (A) bird’s nest (Cook Medical), (B) titanium Greenfield (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA), (C) Simon nitinol (CR Bard, Covington, GA), and (D) Vena Tech (B Braun Medical, Bethlehem, PA).

Differential Diagnosis

• Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement and retrieval

Essential Facts