The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 71, Issue 10 1542-1548, Copyright © 1989 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
Use of the Greenfield filter to prevent fatal pulmonary embolism associated with total hip and knee arthroplasty
BK Vaughn, S Knezevich, AV Lombardi and TH Mallory
Saint Antony Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.
We inserted a Greenfield filter prophylactically in forty-two of
approximately 4,000 patients who were about to have a total hip or knee
replacement, or both, and who were at high risk for pulmonary embolism
(Group I). The filter was implanted postoperatively in twenty-four
additional patients who had thromboembolic complications or in whom
anticoagulation was contraindicated (Group II). None of the patients in
Group I and only one in Group II had a fatal pulmonary embolism. Use of the
Greenfield filter is a safe, easy, and effective method of preventing fatal
pulmonary embolism in selected patients: those who are at exceptionally
high risk for thromboembolism, as a method of preoperative prophylaxis;
those who have had a thromboembolism and in whom therapeutic
anticoagulation is contraindicated; and those who have complications
secondary to therapeutic anticoagulation.
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