Inferior vena cava rupture secondary to filter-associated thrombotic occlusion treated with mechanical thrombectomy

Abstract

Inferior vena cava (IVC) rupture secondary to IVC filter-associated occlusion is an extraordinarily rare and life-threatening condition. Here, a 51-year-old male with distant history of IVC filter placement presented with abdominal pain and mild leg swelling. Shortly after diagnosis of IVC thrombosis, he developed sudden, severe hemorrhagic shock and a large retroperitoneal hematoma due to IVC rupture. Rapid triage led to emergent venous thrombectomy and IVC recanalization, resulting in bleeding cessation and hemodynamic normalization. Patients with chronic indwelling IVC filters or IVC occlusion can present with IVC rupture. Endovascular thrombectomy and stenting may be the only viable treatment.