Is It Possible to Remove a "Permanent" IVC Filter?

Yes, permanent IVC filters are commonly removed. Permanent IVC filters are distinguished from their removable counterparts by absence of a retrieval hook. Many permanent filters are otherwise very similar in design and can be removed using the comparable techniques used in removal of temporary ones. 

Just because a “permanent” IVC filter is placed, doesn’t necessarily mean that the filter has to stay in place forever. Many physicians choose to place permanent IVC filters, making the assumption that they carry an improved safety profile relative to removable filters. The Greenfield filter is an example of a common permanent IVC filter that has been used for decades. Some permanent IVC filters have been associated with decreased rates of long-term complications relative to retrievable filters. However, fracture, blood clot formation, and penetration of the IVC are seen with relative frequency with many of these permanent devices.

Removal of permanent IVC filters is distinguished from temporary filters in that they are not explicitly addressed in the 2010 FDA statement regarding IVC filter removal. In clinical practice, removal of permanent filters depends on several factors, including patient age, dwell time, and ongoing need for the IVC filter.

Figure: An example of a "permanent" Greenfield filter that was removed after nearly 4 years dwell time