RIPT Feasibility Trial

The risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is very high in trauma patients, secondary to tissue injury, venous status from immobilization, and thrombophilia. As such, early initiation of VTE prophylaxis is essential in this population. The competing risks of life threatening hemorrhage and VTE need to be considered very carefully. Potential approaches to VTE prophylaxis include pharmacologic means, and mechanical devices. For patients unable to receive pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis, retrievable inferior vena cava filters (rIVCFs) may be placed until low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) can be initiated, as per guidelines such as Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma The investigators propose a feasibility study to determine whether or not our center can insert rIVCFs in at-risk trauma patients expeditiously enough to cause a meaningful reduction in the time they are left unprotected to PE.