Questions to ask your doctor about IVC filters *

Here are some questions that you may want to ask your doctor about IVC filters:

1. What are the risks of my filter?
2. How do I know what type of filter I have?
3. Where can I get more information about the filter that I have?
4. Should I have my filter taken out? If so, when should it be taken out?
5. Should my filter be left in permanently?
6. What are the risks of taking out the filter?
7. What are the risks of not taking out the filter?
8. What type of doctor typically takes out filters?
9. What type of procedure will be performed to take out my filter? What are the risks?
10. Will the procedure to take out my filter be done in a hospital or an outpatient facility?
11. How long will the procedure to take out my filter last?
12. How long will it take to recover from this procedure?
13. What if my filter cannot be taken out?
14. Will I be able to go home the same day that my filter is taken out?

* Once protection from PE is no longer necessary, filter retrieval should be considered. Filter retrieval is a patient-specific, clinically complex decision; the decision to remove a filter should be based on each patient’s individual risk/benefit profile.