Fibrin cap disruption: an adjunctive technique for inferior vena cava filter retrieval.

Various adjunctive techniques have been reported for challenging inferior vena cava (IVC) filter retrievals (1-4). One particularly challenging obstacle to successful IVC filter retrieval is the formation of a radiolucent fibrin cap over the embedded apex of the IVC filter. This obstacle is a result of filter tilting that creates turbulent blood flow, which promotes fibrin cap formation. The aim of this brief report is to depict a novel technique for IVC filter retrieval: guide wire-manipulated disruption of the fibrin cap.