Endovascular retrieval of intracardiac inferior vena cava filters: a review of published techniques.

Endovascular retrieval of intracardiac or intrapulmonary inferior vena cava (IVC) filters provides a less-invasive alternative to surgery; however, only a few publications provide details describing this approach. The authors searched the medical literature and identified 42 endovascular attempts in 35 publications. There were 29 successful retrievals from the heart (n = 28) and pulmonary artery (n = 1), with only one reported fatality. Of the 13 failed attempts, there were three reported deaths. The authors of 19 reports provided details of their technique. The endovascular approach provides a reasonable alternative treatment to surgical removal of intracardiac or intrapulmonary IVC filters.