New study demonstrates IVC filters “safe and effective” in treating venous thromboembolism

6868
David L Gillespie

Few adverse events are connected to the use of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters to help prevent deep vein blood clots from developing into pulmonary embolisms (PEs), according to the findings of the Predicting the Safety and Effectiveness of Inferior Vena Cava Filters (PRESERVE) trial, published jointly in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (JVIR) and the Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders (JVS-VL).

PRESERVE is a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-directed multicentre, prospective, open-label, non-randomised trial that studied the safety and efficacy of IVC filters from six manufacturers. It was a joint effort of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) and the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS). The study was conducted at 54 sites in the USA between October 10, 2015, and March 31, 2019. During that time, filters were implanted in 1,421 patients, of whom 1,019 patients had an existing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE).

Researchers found that IVC filters were effective in helping to prevent PEs in patients experiencing a DVT where anticoagulation medicines failed or were not an option for the patient. Approximately half of the patients in the study had their filters removed within three months of placement without complication or recurrence of DVT or PE, according to study authors.

“The question should not be only ‘should we place a filter?’ but ‘how should we offer comprehensive filter-inclusive care of patients with venous blood clots, comprised of a detailed patient evaluation, a plan for retrieval after placement, and frequent follow-up with evaluation for filter removal or replacement,’” said Matthew S Johnson, an interventional radiologist and professor of radiology and surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine (Indianapolis, USA) and co-principal investigator on PRESERVE. “PRESERVE showed what questions we should ask as clinicians: ‘does this person continue to require protection against PE, and, in light of changing clinical status and available therapies, is the current filter needed?’ and then make an informed decision on how to continue care.”

David L Gillespie spoke exclusively on the PRESERVE trial at VEITHsymposium 2022.

“DVTs and PEs are a significant cause of death worldwide and understanding fully how tools like IVC filters can be used to prevent the progression of a DVT into a PE allow physicians to safely treat patients at risk of death from venous thromboembolism [VTE]” said David L Gillespie, a vascular surgeon at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Brockton, USA), and co-principal investigator on PRESERVE. “Now that the study is complete, we now have a roadmap for better filter utilisation. We need to solidify a clearer set of practice guidelines for venous thromboembolic disease, based on its symptoms, location and complications. Further studies will focus on how the different manifestations of venous thromboembolic disease may benefit from filter-inclusive care.”

Speaking at VEITHsymposium 2022 (15–19 November, New York, USA), Gillespie outlined that “approximately ten years ago or so, the clinical management of patients with VTE and the prophylaxis of potential VTE in trauma patients was not well studied with regard to the use of IVC filters”. The result of the PRESERVE trial has been that “essentially, these filters are safe and effective for therapeutic [and prophylactic] use in the patient population [in question],” Gillespie continued, and this, despite the “challenges” of the COVID-19 pandemic, the “high dropout rate”, and the fact that “a large number of patients” had their filters removed.

To date, PRESERVE is the largest prospective study investigating the real-world patient outcomes of IVC filter use. “This trial represents an important step in collaborating across specialties to benefit the health and safety of our patients,” said SIR President Parag J Patel (Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA). “Thanks to the work of Drs Johnson and Gillespie and all the investigators and patients involved in the trial, we now have higher quality evidence to support appropriate utilisation and management of IVC filters in patients with venous thromboembolic disease.”

“Congratulations to Dr Gillespie, Dr Johnson and their many colleagues for shepherding this large collaborative multispecialty, multicentre clinical trial to completion,” said Michael C Dalsing (Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, USA), president of the SVS. “This highly impactful study provides the real-world evidence needed when recommending IVC filter placement to protect our patients from a potentially lethal disease and when to remove that filter after it has accomplished the desired effect. It is a stellar example of collaboration across specialties for the betterment of patient care.”


LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here