Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Stanford University Medical Center, 300 Pasteur Drive, H-3651, Stanford, California 94305-5642, USA. wkuo@stanford.edu
The Günther Tulip inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is designed for transjugular retrieval with use of a sheath and snare device. This report describes a technique for removal of difficult-to-retrieve Günther Tulip IVC filters when the standard method fails. In a series of four patients, each with an IVC filter refractory to capture by snare alone, the use of a snare-over-guide wire loop technique succeeded in retrieving the filter in all cases.