Simon Nitinol IVC filter
introduced 1990; Nitinol Medical Technologies, Woburn, MA. BARD
thermal memory alloy:titanium and nickel;
- straightened form at cool temperatures (4-10C)
- reforms into predetermined filter shape at body temperatures
EFFICACY
- recurrent PE: 0 - 4.8%
- IVC thrombosis: 7 - 11% (by clinical symptoms)
- access site thrombosis: 2 - 10%
ADVANTAGES
- narrow introducer sheath (9 Fr)
- largest choice of access: brachial or left CFV approach without difficulty
- only mild MRI artifacts
DISADVANTAGES
- IVC thrombosis: symptomatic occlusion rates higher
than reported wtih Greenfield or bird's nest filters
- caval penetration: 1 - 33%
- caudal drop: exact filter location difficult to predict
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© 2002, C.E. Kahn, Jr.
2002-04-18