Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement: Anatomical Evaluation and Approach to Variant Anatomy

Knowledge of inferior vena cava (IVC) and renal vein anatomy is critical to successful placement of IVC filters. This chapter begins with a detailed review of IVC embryology, with special attention to factors that affect IVC filter deployment. We discuss appropriate IVC filter positioning in a patient with conventional IVC/renal vein anatomy. Then we describe the IVC/renal vein variants commonly encountered in clinical practice, focusing on renal vein variants, duplicated/left IVC, and mega vena cava. Lastly, we review indications and outcomes for suprarenal IVC filter placement.