Use of the ALN permanent/removable vena cava filter. A multi-centre experience.

Aim: Vena cava filters are used for the prevention of pulmonary embolism in cases of contraindication, failure or complications of the anticoagulant therapy. There are no certain data in the literature concerning the effectiveness of vena cava filters and, above all, the possible long-term complications are not known. For this reason increasing attention is paid to permanent/removable filters that permit exploitation of the short-term advantages of vena cava interruption, eliminating the possible long-term complications.