Vena Cava Umbrella Filter Insertion During Pulmonary Embolectomy

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism is preventable by interruption of the inferior vena cava. For some years this has been accomplished by ligation or plication of the inferior vena cava through an abdominal retroperitoneal approach. More recently the Mobin-Uddin inferior vena cava umbrella filter has been developed¹ with the advantage that it can be placed with the patient under local anesthesia in a relatively simple operation. The umbrella filter has another significant advantage in the critically ill patient who has had a pulmonary embolectomy in that it may be easily inserted through the right atrium into the inferior vena cava following the cardiopulmonary bypass with no additional dissection being required, thus obviating an additional abdominal procedure and prolongation of the operation with its attendant morbidity. Technique for insertion of inferior vena cava umbrella filter following cardiopulmonary bypass. Technique An abdominal x-ray film demonstrates the location of both kidney pelves at the completion of