Purpose: To describe a novel endovascular technique for intracaval cement retrieval after spinal surgery.
Technique: We produced a replica of the intracaval cement fragment and a 3D print to plan the endovascular procedure. A woven caval filter was modified with two drawstring sutures to be used as fishing net. We used a 10F sheath in the right internal jugular vein to place the caval filter proximal to the floating fragment, and a 24F sheath in the right femoral vein was the working access. After the deployment of the caval filter, the following steps were performed through the 24F sheath: (A) The drawstring sutures were snared and retrieved to the skin surface in the groin; (B) the fragment was secured with two snare catheters from the femoral access and one through the lumen of the caval filter; (C) the fragment was broken off with a snared guide wire at the base; (D) the smallest fragment was removed directly with the snare; (E) the larger dislodged fragment was controlled within the periprocedural caval filter by tightening the drawstring and removed through the 24F sheath.
Conclusion: Cement fragments located in the inferior vena cava after cement-augmented spinal surgery procedures can be safely removed by the described fishing net technique.
Keywords: Endovascular retrieval; Foreign body; Intracaval cement; Spinal surgery; Woven caval filter.