Therapeutic balloon occlusion of the inferior vena cava.

Thirty-five patients with venous thromboembolism and indication for inferior vena cava (IVC) interruption were treated by experimental balloon occlusion. Experience with this group resulted in the development of a method and equipment to allow transjugular obstruction of the IVC in the awake patient receiving anticoagulants. The study showed that the new method is atraumatic even when applied to sick patients, that it permits simultaneous treatment with anticoagulants and venous occlusion, and that long-term results (to more than four years) are excellent.