Purpose: Inferior vena cava filters (IVCF) have proven to reduce the risk of the severe pulmonary thromboembolism, however the long indwelling of IVCF placement may cause some complications. Nowadays the early retrieval of IVCF has been recommended after the absence of the necessity of IVCF placement. We aimed to evaluate the transition of the retrieval of IVCF between two periods (preceding period; April 2007–March 2011, latter period; April 2012–September 2014) because the Japanese ministry of health, labour and welfare recommended the retrieval of IVCF as soon as possible in March 2011. Materials and methods: Between April 2007 and September 2014, 126 patients implanted optional IVCF (Günther Tulip filters in 57, OptEase in 18, ALN in 51) were enrolled. Optional IVCF had been retrieved after improvement and/or stabilization of deep vein thrombus. The endpoints of this study were the rate of attempt and success of retrieval of IVCF at overall and each period. Especially between April 2012 and September 2014 we used the protocol for assured retrieval of IVCF so we compared the attempt and success rate of IVCF retrieval and the indwelling time. Results: Fifty two patients (41.3%) with optional IVCF placement were performed attempt of IVCF retrieval. The success rate of IVCF retrieval was 98.1% at the average indwelling time of 18.9 days. Only one case in the preceding period was failed to retrieve IVCF and its indwelling time was 43 days. The attempt and success rate of IVCF retrieval and the indwelling time in the preceding period and the latter period were 20% and 57.7%, 88.9% and 100%, and 20.2±9.2 days and 18.6±8.0 days, respectively. In the latter period, especially in the period between April 2012–September 2014, 53 patients implanted with optional filter and 33 patients (62.3%) of these were retrieved optional IVCF after we worked the physicians actively to consult the retrieval of IVCF and the success rate was 100% and the indwelling time was 17.7±6.8 days. Conclusion: IVCF retrieval rate has been increasing by degrees and our proposal to retrieve IVCF actively and possibly for the IVCF retrieval would be useful for the improvement of the IVCF retrieval rate.

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