[Accidental opening of a Greenfield filter at the right atrium].

A case of patient with an accidental aperture of a Greenfield filter through the right auricula during the surgical procedure performed in order to insert the mentioned filter is presented. This filter had to be removed under extracorporeal circulation, and it was immediately followed by the placement of a clip in the inferior vena cava. Complications associated to the Greenfield filter and adequate approach to this rare event are commented.