Concierge interventional radiology · UK
Private IVC filter insertion and retrieval, by a consultant interventional radiologist.
A proper interventional radiology suite, a named consultant, a retrievable filter where possible — and a retrieval date booked before the device ever goes in.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A consultant interventional radiologist, in a proper IR suite
Not a general theatre and not a trainee. A named IR consultant, real cavagram guidance, and the anaesthetic that suits you.
- 02
Retrieval planned from day one
MHRA has flagged the risks of leaving filters in for years. We book the retrieval window before the filter goes in.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation — and the choice of filter type — is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private IVC filter costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner IR units. Send the details and we quote firm figures for both insertion and retrieval up front.
In short
A retrievable IVC filter in our network: £2,000–£5,000 in, £2,000–£4,000 out.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| IVC filter insertion (retrievable) | £2,000–£5,000 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
| IVC filter insertion (permanent) | £2,000–£4,500 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
| IVC filter retrieval (routine, <6 months) | £2,000–£3,500 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
| Complex retrieval (laser sheath / advanced) | £3,500–£6,000 | 60–120 min | Same visit |
| Follow-up IVC imaging (cavagram or CT) | £400–£900 | 20–30 min | 24–48 h |
| Consultation with interventional radiologist | £250–£450 | 30 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by IR unit, by device (retrievable vs permanent), by whether anaesthetic support is needed, and by how straightforward the retrieval turns out to be. We come back with a firm quote within one working day and include the retrieval cost up front.
The problem
The right indication, the right device, the retrieval booked in.
The MHRA has issued repeated alerts about IVC filters being placed and then forgotten. Our fix is boring and effective: strict indications, a retrievable device wherever possible, and a retrieval date on the calendar before the filter goes in.
-
Not sure it is really indicated?
NICE NG89 is cautious. We audit the indication against BSIR standards and often conclude a filter is not needed at all.
-
Worried about being left with it?
A retrievable filter is placed with a booked retrieval date — ideally 3 to 6 months later — and we track it.
-
Want it done properly?
A named consultant interventional radiologist, a real IR suite, ultrasound-guided access and a completion cavagram.
The journey
From enquiry to retrieval — what happens, in order.
One IR consultant from first message to retrieval — including the surveillance in between.
Phase 1 · Before your procedure
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
A few hours in the IR suite
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Your VTE history, current anticoagulation, why a filter is being considered, and by whom.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: whether a filter is genuinely indicated, retrievable vs permanent, an indicative price, and the retrieval plan.
- 03
Before
We arrange the appointment
Usually within a few days. Bloods, imaging review and a plan for pausing or continuing anticoagulation on the day.
- 04
On the day
Arrival at the IR suite
Consent and a chat with the interventional radiologist and anaesthetist. Local plus light sedation is standard.
- 05
On the day
The procedure itself
30 to 45 minutes. Ultrasound-guided femoral or jugular access, IVC cavagram, and deployment just below the lowest renal vein.
- 06
On the day
Home the same day
Short recovery on the ward, a check chest x-ray or CT, written aftercare, and home within a few hours with a named retrieval date.
- 07
After
Retrieval and review
Ideally within 3 to 6 months once anticoagulation is safe again. Longer dwell times need advanced techniques and carry more risk.
Typical end-to-end: a few days from enquiry to insertion. Retrieval window: 3–6 months.
When it helps
When an IVC filter is genuinely the right step.
The situations where a filter is defensible, and the one red flag that means an emergency rather than a clinic booking.
-
VTE with contraindication to anticoagulation
Documented DVT or PE where anticoagulation is not safe — active bleeding, recent CNS haemorrhage, severe thrombocytopenia, imminent major surgery.
-
Recurrent VTE despite therapy
New clot despite therapeutic anticoagulation — after excluding non-adherence, drug interactions and undiagnosed thrombophilia.
-
Massive PE with residual iliocaval thrombus
A large PE with free-floating clot still in the iliocaval veins and marginal cardiopulmonary reserve. Case-by-case decision.
-
High-risk major surgery
Multi-trauma, major orthopaedic or bariatric surgery where anticoagulation is contraindicated and mobilisation will be delayed.
-
PE plus DVT during thrombolysis
A small subset of patients undergoing catheter-directed thrombolysis where an interception device is added for safety.
-
Spinal cord injury (selected)
Acute spinal cord injury with delayed mobilisation and high VTE risk. RCT evidence remains limited — used cautiously.
-
Bridge across a bleeding episode
A retrievable filter placed to cover a defined bleeding window, then removed once anticoagulation can safely restart.
-
Red flag: sudden breathlessness after insertion
New chest pain, breathlessness, syncope or leg swelling after a filter is placed — same-day A&E, not a clinic call.
Procedure options
Not every filter is the same, and not every case needs one.
The devices we use in UK IR practice — retrievable and permanent — and the retrieval routes to match them.
-
Retrievable filter — femoral access
Standard route for most day-case placements. Cook Celect, Bard Denali, Argon Option and similar devices deployed via the common femoral vein.
-
Retrievable filter — jugular access
Right internal jugular access when femoral disease or clot burden makes the groin unsafe, or when early retrieval is planned via the same route.
-
Permanent filter
Bird’s Nest, TrapEase, Simon Nitinol or older Greenfield designs — reserved for patients in whom long-term anticoagulation will never be safe.
-
Suprarenal placement
Filter positioned above the renal veins in specific anatomical situations — duplicated IVC, pregnancy, renal vein thrombus, or previous infrarenal filter.
-
Routine retrieval (<6 months)
Snare-loop or cone catches the apex hook, sheath is advanced, filter collapses and is withdrawn — ideally within three to six months of insertion.
-
Complex retrieval
Laser sheath (Photon-Plus), mechanical maceration or loop-snare techniques for filters that have tilted, embedded or been in place for years.
-
Cavagram surveillance
A follow-up venogram or CT of the IVC when tilt, migration, penetration or occlusion is suspected on symptoms or imaging.
-
Consultation only
An honest second opinion on whether a filter is really the right answer — many referrals resolve without one.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of interventional radiologists, we picked them.
Consultant interventional radiologists across London and the major UK cities. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every IR consultant in our network.
-
Consultant interventional radiologists, BSIR members, not trainees
-
Filters chosen from current MHRA-alert-compliant retrievable ranges where appropriate
-
Retrieval date booked at the time of insertion, with a tracking system
-
Every case discussed against NICE NG89 and BSIR IVC filter standards
Safety and retrieval
What to expect — and the MHRA-flagged risks, honestly.
IVC filters are day-case procedures, but they carry real long-term risks. The things worth planning are the retrieval window, the anticoagulation restart, and knowing what is normal after.
-
Local plus light sedation is standard
The vast majority of cases are done under LA with light IV sedation. GA is rare and reserved for anxious patients or complex retrievals.
-
Access-site bruising is normal
A small bruise at the groin or neck puncture site is expected. Pseudoaneurysm, AV fistula or significant haematoma are uncommon.
-
Filter migration and tilt
Filters can migrate upward toward the right atrium or downward into an iliac vein, or tilt to one side. Tilt reduces the device’s ability to catch clot.
-
Fracture and penetration
Metal fatigue can fracture strut fragments, and legs commonly penetrate the IVC wall over time — up to 40% are silent, symptomatic penetration is under 5%.
-
IVC thrombosis
Around 5–15% at five years — a real concern, because IVC filters only intercept clot, they do not treat DVT. Post-thrombotic syndrome can follow.
-
Retrieval within 3–6 months
MHRA alerts (2010 and 2014) drove a retrieval initiative. The longer a retrievable filter stays in, the harder — and riskier — it is to remove.
-
MHRA Yellow Card reporting
Any device-related adverse event is reported via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. Ask for a copy of the device sticker and serial number for your records.
-
Anticoagulation still matters
A filter does not replace anticoagulation once it is safe again — it is a bridge, not a cure. The retrieval plan and the resumption plan are made together.
-
Red flags
New breathlessness, chest pain, syncope, leg swelling, back pain or abdominal pain after a filter is placed — call the IR team or A&E the same day.
Reading your procedure note
Your IR report in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever device is used, the report the interventional radiologist sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Radiological language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and device chosen
Why the filter was placed — bleeding, recurrent VTE, surgery — and which device, serial number and manufacturer were used.
- 02 Technique
Access, anatomy and deployment
Femoral or jugular access, the cavagram findings (renal veins, patency, any duplicated IVC), and the exact deployment level.
- 03 Findings
Position, tilt and any complications
Final position on the completion cavagram, filter tilt, any access-site issues, and post-procedure imaging findings.
- 04 Impression
Retrieval plan and anticoagulation
Read this first: the booked retrieval date, the anticoagulation restart plan, and the imaging follow-up that goes with it.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for IVC filter insertion and retrieval varies by insurer and by indication — usually funded when medically indicated. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about IVC filters.
Quick answers on indications, retrieval, cost, and what a filter can and cannot do.
-
What is an IVC filter and what does it actually do?
A small umbrella-shaped metal device inserted into the inferior vena cava — the large vein returning blood from the legs and abdomen to the heart. It catches venous clots before they reach the lungs. It does not treat the clot itself, and it does not replace anticoagulation.
-
Retrievable or permanent — which do I need?
Most modern practice uses retrievable filters, placed as a temporary measure and removed once anticoagulation is safe again. Permanent filters are reserved for patients in whom long-term anticoagulation will never be an option. We agree the plan with your haematologist or referring team before you commit.
-
How long can a retrievable filter stay in?
Ideally three to six months, and up to twelve months routinely. Beyond that, retrieval becomes harder and may require advanced techniques such as laser sheath. The MHRA has issued alerts about the risks of leaving filters in indefinitely, which is why we book the retrieval at the same time as the insertion.
-
How much does a private IVC filter cost in the UK?
Roughly £2,000–£5,000 for insertion and £2,000–£4,000 for routine retrieval. Complex retrieval with a laser sheath is £3,500–£6,000. Consultation with the interventional radiologist is £250–£450. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
-
What are the risks of an IVC filter?
Access-site bruising, filter tilt, migration, fracture, penetration of the IVC wall (often silent), IVC thrombosis (5–15% at five years), and recurrent DVT. Retrieval carries similar risks plus the possibility that a filter is too embedded to remove safely.
-
Will I still need blood thinners after the filter is placed?
Yes, as soon as it is safe to do so. A filter is a mechanical safety net, not a treatment for the clot — anticoagulation remains the mainstay of therapy. The whole point of a retrievable filter is to cover a defined bleeding or surgical window and then come out.
-
What happens if my filter cannot be retrieved?
Around 60–90% of retrievable filters are successfully removed, depending on how long they have been in. If routine retrieval fails, advanced techniques such as laser sheath, mechanical maceration or loop-snare are considered. In a minority of cases the filter is left in as a permanent device and lifelong surveillance is arranged.
-
When should I go to A&E after an IVC filter?
New chest pain, sudden breathlessness, syncope, new leg swelling, unexplained back or abdominal pain, or heavy bleeding at the access site are all reasons to seek same-day medical help.
Related tests
Looking for something else?
Nearby in the library