Stein PD, et al. - Researchers undertook this retrospective cohort analysis utilizing data from the National Inpatient Sample (2009-2014) to determine if inferior vena cava (IVC) filters decrease mortality in patients undergoing pulmonary embolectomy. The patients were selected using the International Classification of Diseases-9-Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) Codes. Among patients with acute pulmonary embolism who had pulmonary embolectomy, in-hospital all-cause mortality was evaluated in stable and unstable (in shock or on ventilator support) patients. Mortality with an IVC filter vs with no IVC filter among stable patients who underwent pulmonary embolectomy was documented to be 50 of 1212 (4.1%) vs 202 of 755 (27%), respectively. In unstable patients, the estimated death with an IVC filter vs with no IVC filter was 108 of 598 (18%) vs 179 of 358 (50%), respectively. Based on these findings, experts inferred that lower mortality with IVC filters can be achieved in both stable and unstable patients who undergo pulmonary embolectomy only if IVC filters are inserted in the first 4 or 5 days.