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Despite conflicting evidence on the benefits and harms of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters, their use remains common in patients with venous thromboembolism and contraindications to anticoagulation. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “a patient should be referred for IVC filter removal when the risk/benefit profile favors removal and the procedure is feasible given the patient's health status.” In this observational study, researchers examined claims data from Medicare patients who underwent IVC filter placement between 2013 and 2021 to track rates of placement and retrieval.
Key findings were as follows:
Among 270,000 patients (mean age, 75) who underwent IVC filter placement, the cumulative incidence of retrieval was 15% at…