The surgery is quite rapid and should be done by a practiced radiologist. It is appropriate to ask questions about their experience doing this type of procedure. Right away, an IV line will be placed and you’ll be given sedation to make the procedure more pleasant. If there is hair at the incision area, it may be shaved before numbed with a local anesthesia. The doctor will make a small incision to access a major vein – into which a long tube will be inserted. Using continuous x-ray imaging, the tube will be moved up into the filter and x-ray dye will be sent through the tube to clearly show the vessel on the x-ray monitors. The filter will be released into the vessel which will expand and attach. The catheter will be removed and the incision closed and bandaged.
Afterwards, you should spend hours in a recovery room while the sedation wears off. Your vital signs will be monitored and you’ll be given additional pain medication should it be necessary. In most cases, you’ll go home the same day if driven by a family member or friend.
Beyond some nausea and confusion from the sedation, some pain at the incision site, and general sleepiness, you shouldn’t feel much of a difference while recovering.