Is it good to place a filter for pulmonary embolism or not?
Whether it is good or not to place a filter for pulmonary embolism mainly depends on the cause of the pulmonary embolism and whether there are indications for placing a filter.
Generally speaking, if pulmonary embolism is caused by the formation of blood clots in the lower limbs or the inferior vena cava, placing a filter can generally be beneficial. However, not all cases of lower limb venous thrombosis require a filter. Filters are usually only used for deep or large vein thromboses that are not suitable for thrombectomy or thrombolysis treatments. If a filter is placed under other conditions, it is very likely that thrombosis will re-form on the surface of the filter, potentially leading to some recurrent pulmonary embolisms or iatrogenic pulmonary embolisms. Therefore, the decision to place a filter is complex and requires a doctor to weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether or not to proceed.