Infected aortic pseudoaneurysm caused by an inferior vena cava filter.

BACKGROUND

Inferior vena cava filters are widely used to prevent pulmonary embolism, but they can cause serious complications.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 45-year-old man with multiple abscesses was transferred to the emergency department from another hospital. Computed tomography revealed bilateral subscapular abscesses, septic pulmonary embolism, and an abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm with an abscess at the site of the inferior vena cava filter limb inserted 12 years before. After admission to our hospital, surgical drainage of the bilateral subscapular and right wrist joint abscesses was performed; subsequent treatment with ampicillin improved the patient's condition. Inflammation resolved on the 19th hospitalization day, and abdominal aortic replacement surgery was performed. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. He returned to the previous hospital for rehabilitation after 40 days of hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

Inferior vena cava filters could cause serious complications.