Inferior Vena Cava Filter Fracture Embolization to the Left Lung Complicated by Massive Hemoptysis

Inferior vena cava filter placement for venous thromboembolism has increased by 25-fold in the past two decades. Timely retrieval of these filters is often not executed, resulting in long-term complications. We report a case of 44-year-old male patient who underwent inferior vena cava filter placement for chronic venous thromboembolism after presenting with hemoptysis. The results of chest computed tomographic angiography were negative for active bleeding, but imaging revealed multiple fragments of fractured filter in the infrarenal inferior vena cava and one fragment extravascular in left lower lobe of the lung causing massive hemoptysis. Endovascular technique was unsuccessful in retrieving the extravascular fragment; hence, he underwent left lower lobe wedge resection with no further episodes of hemoptysis postoperatively.