Premier Health First in Southwest Ohio to Use Bioconvertible Filters

Premier Health patients who undergo surgical procedures and must stop taking blood thinners that they usually count on to dissolve blood clots in their legs now have an alternative.

For those individuals, a new device can be placed in the inferior vena cava (IVC) vein, the large vein that travels toward the heart, for protection during the time they need to be off blood thinning medication. The filter helps to prevent a life-threatening pulmonary embolism by blocking clots from reaching the heart and lungs.

The drawback to conventional filters is that, over time, the filters can clog and potentially cause complications. A typical IVC filter requires a second procedure three to six months later to remove the filter.

New bioconvertible IVC filters eliminate the need for a second procedure to remove the filter. “There are bioabsorbable struts forming the filter that after three to four months dissolve, allowing the ring to open up and become a cylinder,” said M. Atiq Khalid, MD, FACP, FACC, FSCAI, interventional cardiologist with Middletown Cardiology Associates. “Eliminating the need to go back into the vein to remove a filter is a tremendous benefit to the patient and reduces the possibility of some complications.”

The BTG Sentry Bioconvertible IVC Filter is designed to provide immediate protection against pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients at risk for the condition. Using image guidance, a catheter is inserted through the skin into a large vein in the neck or upper leg and advanced to the inferior vena cava vein. The IVC filter is then placed through the catheter into the vein.

“Dr. Khalid is the first in Southwest Ohio to utilize these new bioconvertible filters,” said Keith Bricking, MD, president of Atrium Medical Center. “We are proud to support our skilled physicians who are making a difference in our patients’ lives.”

Back to the October 2019 issue of Premier Pulse