Background Long-term placement of IVC filters is not without complication. Descosous et al. demonstrated that those patients with IVC filter placement had greater than three times the incidence of recurrent DVT at two years. Pulmonary Emboli (PE) have been reported. These can occur when there is no evidence of PE prior to insertion of the IVC filter. This was shown by Rogers et al where 2.3% of trauma patients receiving prophylactic filters developed a PE. They can also occur as a recurrence (i.e. where a PE has already been demonstrated prior IVC filter insertion) in 2.5 to 7.7 % of patients1, 2.