A caval (IVC) filter is a metallic device designed to trap blood clots. It is positioned in a large vein in the abdomen through a catheter placed into a vein in the groin or neck. The filter traps blood clots that have dislodged from the legs and pelvis before the clots travel to the lung arteries where they can create serious problems. Sometimes a patient only needs an IVC filter for a short time. In this case, a retrievable filter can be inserted. This filter can then be removed several months later once the patient no longer needs it.
