Blocked IVC filter-any docs around??(Longish,sorry)

[wrinklytum]

dp had an IVC filter put in about 9 months ago because he has has prev. PE and Dvt and a clot in hiv IVC.Recntly he was admitted to hspital with sepsis and found to have bilateral DVT and was treated with fragmin and warfarinised.He has then got massive oedema which we thought was a combo of the after effects of his recent TURP,high dose steroids and the DVTs.Over the w/e I got the emergency doc to see him because I was concerned about the oedema,they px diuretics,which helped a bit but not much.He went to GP yesterday and had his bloods done and to check him over.Nothing new was given despite the huge oedema in his lower half of his body.Today he has gone for an OP appt with the consultant and is now awaiting a scan as they feel his filter has blocked.What will happen now.He was very tearful and frightened.I cannot be there with him as my dcs are only small and 1 has sn.Help

[emma1977]

I was wondering about you and dp from your last post. I had also wondered whether he had a blocked filter from the degree of oedema you were desribing and sorry to hear that is the case.

If it is definitely blocked on the scan, he will probably be offered a procedure to unblock (or stent) it. It can usually be done under sedation and local anaesthetic.

Hope you're OK. Sounds awful and very stressful for you all.

[wrinklytum]

Thnks,Emma.

The stupid thing is that I was trying to get him to go back to the ward but he wouldn't,the same with when he initially got the sepsis that triggered the latest hospital episode off..He is soooo stubborn.Even more embarrassing is the fact I am a nurse!I am now feeling really guilty.The urology ward said that the massive oedema was common post TURP,and his legs WERE oedematous from the DVTs but I knew it was a bit more serious,hence the on call doc.Mind you even he and the GP didn't pick up on it.I am feeling a bit guilty,though.

[emma1977]

No need to feel guilty, even though you are a nurse you are his dp first and foremost.

I hate it when I get asked anything medical to do with my family, as I completely lose all perspective and rational sense!

[wrinklytum]

Thanks

I don't know much about IVC filters though,only that their function is to "seive out" clots.The poor man has already had stents replaced in his kidneys twice since September (He went into ARF and needed temporary dialysis when he first became poorly)He will be the "stent man"

Blardy Wegener's.I wish it would go away.(Flying pig emoticon).

[emma1977]

Sometimes the filter will need replacing with a new one if it can't be stented or cleaned out.

It may not be much comfort, but if the stent hadn't have been in place then he would have had several more massive PEs by now.

Wegener's is a horrible illness to have- poor chap.