Objective: To determine the incidence of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary emboli and the value of an inferior vena cava filter in patients with bilateral lower-extremity amputations, and to determine the incidence of pulmonary emboli after filter placement.
Design: Retrospective study with a follow-up of 3 to 64 months.
Setting: Inner-city university hospital.
Patients: Twenty-seven consecutive patients with bilateral lower-limb amputation.
Results: Age, sex, and race were assessed, and had no impact on the incidence of pulmonary embolus in these patients with lower-extremity amputation.
Conclusion: No clinical objective evidence of pulmonary emboli occurred after placement of an inferior vena caval filter.