Bedside implantation of a new temporary vena cava inferior filter - Safety and efficacy results of the European ANGEL-Registry

Purpose: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a frequently occurring complication in critically ill patients. Simultaneous occurrence of PE and life-threatening bleeding, may render medical anticoagulation impossible. For these patients, inferior vena cava filters (IVCF) present a valuable therapeutic alternative. The Angel (R) catheter is a novel IVCF that provides temporary protection from PE and is implanted at bedside. The primary objective of the European Angel (R) catheter registry is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this IVCF. Material and methods: The European Angel (R) catheter registry is an observational, multi-centre registry. Patients from four countries and eight sites that have undergone Angel (R) catheter implantation between March 2013 and February 2017 were enrolled. Results: A total of 114 critically ill patients were included. The main indication for implantation was a high-risk for PE in combination with contraindications for anticoagulation (69.3%). One clinically non-significant PE (0.9%) occurred in a patient with an indwelling Angel (R) catheter. No cases of catheter associated serious complications were observed. Conclusion: Data shows that the Angel (R) catheter is a safe and effective approach to overcome the acute phase of critically ill patients with a high risk for the development of PE or an established PE, when an anticoagulation therapy is contraindicated. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved