Autopsy assessment of the Gunther vena caval filter

The Gunther vena caval filter has been in clinical use forsome years. Accounts of findings at post-mortemexamination in animals are available (Gunther et al,1985), but there are no detailed human autopsy reports. We describe the findings at post-mortem examinationof a patient who had a filter inserted 2 months prior toher death. A 63-year-old lady had a history of recurrent deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, despite long-term anticoagulation therapy. She also had severe osteoarthritis of her hips, worse on the left, and needed a total hip replacement.