Deaths Due to Cigarette Smoking for 12 Smoking-Related Cancers in the United States.

Discussion | Reports of device-related complications have increased with the growing use of retrievable IVCFs,3 resulting in a 2010 safety communication from the US Food and Drug Administrationurging removalof thesedeviceswhen theiruse is no longer indicated.4 Prolonged IVCFdwell timeshavebeen associated with increased risks for device-related complications5 and retrieval failure,2 resulting in the perception that retrieval of IVCFswithprolongeddwell times should not be attempted. Smaller studieshavedescribedhigh ratesof technical successwhen retrieving IVCFswith prolongeddwell times,6 now corroborated in our larger study. Retrievable IVCFs with prolongeddwell times canbe removedwith ahighdegreeof technical success without increasing the rate of procedural adverse events.Adjunctive retrieval techniquespositively affect retrieval rates and are oftenneeded for retrieval of IVCFswith prolonged dwell times. Study limitations include theevolutionof adjunctive techniques during the study period. The use of these techniques was operator dependent andwas not objectively assigned. In addition, this single-center experience may not translate broadly. Retrievable IVCFs can be removed safely with a high rate of technical success, regardless of dwell time. These findings support theUSFoodandDrugAdministration’s goal of removing devices that are no longer necessary by eliminating a limit on dwell times. Weighed against the risks of prolonged dwell timesof retrievable IVCFs, removal of thesedevices should always be attempted.