I underwent a cryoablation procedure for heart atrial fibrillation performed at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, CA. I subsequently developed blood clots in both legs. A portion of the blood clots then broke-off which created a near-fatal large pulmonary embolism.

The following day, I had an IVC filter implanted into my abdomen area at Mercy General Hospital to help catch other possible blood clots that might break-away in my legs. The doctor explained when implanting the IVC filter that it was a temporary IVC filter that needed to be retrieved preferably within 30 days (60 days maximum) since the blood vessel increasingly grows over it.

Immediately after the first failed attempt to remove the tilted (should be positioned upright) filter, the doctor said he did not have the needed tool on-hand to remove the now embedded filter and would therefore have to obtain the tool and schedule a second retrieval attempt. He said he would consult with other doctors and subsequently told me he would team-up with Dr. Brian Evans for a second IVC filter retrieval attempt.

A couple weeks later, the other doctor with Dr. Evans assisting failed during the second attempt to retrieve the filter. Ten days later, I had to go the Mercy General Hospital Emergency Room due to escalating right thigh pain resulting from the second attempt. I was admitted and hospitalized for 9 days for treatment of what developed into a massive right leg hematoma. The leaking vein that caused the hematoma also caused a right leg thigh-to-ankle blood clot and significantly damaged blood vessel valves. This has evolved into what will be lifelong Postphlebitic Syndrome of the leg (pain, swelling, numbness, etc.) and the necessity to permanently wear a compression sock on that leg.

After the second failed attempt, I was belatedly referred to Stanford Hospital & Clinics where they successfully retrieved the IVC filter. Importantly, the Stanford physician’s more advanced technique enabled me to remain on an anticoagulant during the procedure; in contrast, the two previous failed attempts required that I abstain from both my primary anticoagulant for 5 days prior and my secondary anticoagulant the night prior. Abstaining from anticoagulants once a person has had a blood clot elevates their risk of another blood clot. Also, I learned at Stanford Hospital & Clinics that their technique would only access the IVC filter through my carotid (neck) vein where blood flows quickly and therefore is much less likely to clot; the second failed attempt’s technique simultaneously utilized both the carotid and femoral (thigh) vein. The femoral vein has slower flowing blood that is more likely to clot – which mine subsequently did from thigh-to-ankle.

Had I not experienced the second failed retrieval attempt by Dr. Evans and the other doctor and instead had Stanford Hospital & Clinics retrieve the filter on the second attempt, in my opinion I would have avoided a leg hematoma and thigh-to-ankle blood clot with its ensuing series of events, 9 days in the hospital, 4.75 hours of radiation, 40+ doctor visits, substantial pain, past/future medical expenses, forced early retirement, adverse impacts on my formerly active lifestyle, and health complications including Postphlebitic Syndrome.

Submitted Dec. 15, 2015