TY  - JOUR
T1  - FRee-floating thrombus and pulmonary embolism-reply
AU  - Goldhaber SZ
Y1  - 1997/12/08
N1  - 10.1001/archinte.1997.00440430143019
JO  - Archives of Internal Medicine
SP  - 2662
EP  - 2662
VL  - 157
IS  - 22
N2  - Greenfield is to be commended for his contributions to the management of venous thromboembolism during the past 3 decades. The Greenfield filter has saved the lives of many patients who could not tolerate anticoagulation or who suffered recurrent PE despite anticoagulation. Nevertheless, despite Greenfield's many achievements, one must question whether an FFT is a legitimate indication for routine filter insertion, especially since Pacouret and colleagues1 have successfully demonstrated that anticoagulation alone results in a recurrent PE rate of only 3% in this high-risk population.Five points are worth noting in response to Greenfield's letter. First, the insertion of vena caval filters has become increasingly common despite frequently "soft" indications. Second, even when the filter is successfully placed, without any complications, it may not prolong life or improve quality of life. Third, the filter does not neutralize an active thrombotic process; therefore, acute venous thrombosis will continue to propagate, unabated, in
SN  - 0003-9926
M3  - doi: 10.1001/archinte.1997.00440430143019
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1997.00440430143019
ER  -