vena cava filter

Ok so I am cruising right through all my pre-surgery tests (sleep apnea, cardiac clearance..etc.) I am ok with it all except this vena cava filter. I have tried to research it on the web and kinda ask around...but I have not gotten any info. What is it? what do they do? Is it something that stays in always? Do I need to take off work when I go have it done? Should I be freaking out about it?

I have never heard of this before but did a research for you. I don't know if you found this website but it explains what it is. Hope this helps, and good luck when you have to have it done.  http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/common/standard/tr ansform.jsp?requestURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/vena_cava_filte r.jsp

Thanks Sandy I had not found that website...it was very informative and good information....now I would love to hear from some people who had it done...just to get a personal view on how it was having it done.

Your so welcome, I'm glad I could help-Hopefully someone else can give you more insight with personal experience. Sandy

The purpose is to prevent a potential blood clot from traveling to the lungs.   If you do a google search for "what is a vena cava filter" you will get a lot of sites.   Best of luck.

Thanks for your help..now I have gotten alot of the technical info...but I am hoping to hear from someone who has had the procedure themselves just to get a personal take on it.

I have had the vena cava filter inserted.  It was done as an outpatient procedure.  This is my experience -  I went to the pulmonologist and he said that I needed to have this done, so I had this done on the Friday after my  visit.  I went home from the hospital and all was fine until later that night.  I had SEVERE abdominal pain.  I went to the ER and they just kept giving me demerol for the pain, but did not know what was wrong with me that was causing the pain.  I left at about 7 a.m. Saturday morning.  Nothing changed and I was back in the hospital about 8 hours later.  Needless to say that they gave me more demerol and finally admitted me.  I was inpatient for 2 days and was finally able to go home.  They are still not sure what caused the pain, so it could just have been a coincident after the filter was inserted.  Who knows????  Hope this helps, Sandy G

Thank you for the info...sounds like it was not a pleasant event... Anyone else???

I have known several WLS patients who had these inserted before surgery.  The filter itself is an umbrella shapped thingy that's inserted in to the large vein that returns blood to the heart from the abdomen and legs. ..it helps prevent blood clots that form in the deeper veins (vena cava)of the legs that could travel on to the lungs and heart..then it blocks blood from flowing.... during the procedure they use a catherter inserted through a vein in the groin... as I said I have known several folks that have had them..I can't think of anyone who had problems with them...

Hope this helps!

 

Hi Pam, I had a vena cava filter put in 10 days before surgery and removed 4 months later.    I went to Vascular and Interventional Associates off of Thomas More Pky and they were wonderful.  I had the procedure done at St. Luke in the Radiology dept.   It's an outpatient procedure.  I was there for maybe 4 or 5 hours total and by the next day I was fine.    Mine went in through my neck.  I was given medicine to relax me....but not knock me out and my neck was numbed.   I just lay on a table under the fluoroscope and they use that to snake the catheter with the filter down through my body.   They also took x-rays to be sure it was in the right place.   After they were done, I went back to a room and had to stay for a while just to make sure I was doing okay.   Then they released me.   Pretty much it's the same thing for having it taken out. 

It's definitely not something to freak out about.  From what I was told, they opted to take mine out because I have no history of blood clots.  It would depend on your history as to whether or not it would come back out.  Also, I was told that the longer it stays in, the more difficult it is to retrieve it.  Definitely take off work the day of the procedure, but I doubt you'd need to take off the day after.  The worst part of it for me was the tape they use to hold the bandage on.  My neck was turned to the side for the procedure and when they put the bandage on.....so when I straightened my neck to look forward, the tape pulled at my skin and actually tore it in spots.   That was the worst part.  The actual spot they put the catheter through is teeny-tiny.  Less than a mosquito bite.   I have two spots on my neck.....the top one is where they put the filter in and the bottom one is where they took it out.   I kid my nieces and nephews that I was bitten by Dracula!    Actually, if you look at this picture,  you can see the two red spots on the side of my neck.   http://s202.photobucket.com/albums/aa257/KyChris/Cave%20Run% 20Lake%20June%202007/?action=view¤t=100_1423.jpg I hope this helps.  If you have any more questions.....I'm here!