Robot-assisted removal of inferior vena cava filter

Abstract

This case describes a 57-year-old morbidly obese woman with complications of a permanent Bard inferior vena cava (IVC) filter (BD Bard, Covington, Ga) placed in 2005. She complained of recurrent abdominal pain for 6 years associated with constipation, nausea, and bloating. Computed tomography venography showed an IVC filter with malposition, strut fracture, and extrusion, and a fractured strut protruded outside of the vena cava, adjacent to the distal right common iliac artery. The da Vinci Xi Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, Calif) was used to remove the IVC filter and its displaced fractured strut. The operation time was 189 minutes, with an estimated blood loss of 200 mL. She was discharged home on postoperative day 2 with no complications. She had complete resolution of abdominal pain at her follow-up appointment.

Keywords

• Robotic approach
• Filter removal
• Filter complication