Question:
has anyone had greenfield filters?

I had some complications to my LAP RNY, along with a pulmonary embolism about 3 weeks after surgery...My doctor needs to re-operate to open my anastomosis...it never opened. But before he operates, he wants me to have two filters inserted either through my neck or groin... because I threw a clot...he dosen't want any chances of me doing it again. my question to anyone who has had the filters...do they sedate you before doing this? How sedated are you? Do they hurt? Any problems with them now that they are in? any info would be really great. Thanks.    — lynne S. (posted on November 9, 2000)

February 20, 2002
I can't answer your questions about sedation, but I can tell you that my dad had a filter inserted in his groin about 10 years ago and hasn't had any blood clot problems since. He underwent surgery last year (unrelated to the clots and obesity) and as part of the pre-op testing they checked his filter. It's still working great after all this time. He continues to take an aspirin a day to keep clotting at a minimum.
   — Sonya T.

February 20, 2002
I'm not sure what the name of it was. My dad also had a filter put in his leg via his groin because of persistent blood clots. I do believe he was sedated and yes he was sore for a while afterwards. Now he can't even remember which leg its in so you don't feel anything after it heals. I will tell you though that I found it pretty scary. He takes 10-15mg of coumadin every day to keep his blood thin. He was told if it ever clogged that he'd lose his leg. This means very serious concerns when necessary surgeries come up later because then they have to thicken your blood back up to control bleeding during surgeries. We never would have put a filter in but he had 50% lung damage due to clots traveling to his lungs and it would have been a matter of time before one passed further and he'd have had a stroke or worse. I don't mean to scare you. I just wanted you to know the type of concerns our family has lived with since his filter. Whatever your choice, good luck.
   — Shelly S.

June 9, 2003
I had the Greenfield filter inserted in my neck four days before my RNY surgery. They gave me mild sedation. I couldn't feel anything and mostly was out of it until the last five minutes or so. At that time there was still no pain, but I could hear the doctors talking. It was an easy experience for me.
   — Julia T.

January 6, 2004
I also had complications after my surgery. I have a green field filter in my right groin. It did not hurt at all. They gave me a local and I was awake for the entire procedure. Since then I have had no complications with the filter.
   — Theresa F.

June 5, 2005
I had a Greenfield filter put in two weeks before my RNY. They went in through the femoral vein in my groin and within 3 hours I was dischrged from the hospital and on my way home. I experienced some discomfort in my hip/thigh area for about a day afterwards, and then returned to work. I have had no complications from it, and it has given both me and my bariatric surgeon peace of mind. Good luck!
   — Liz L.