ObjectiveTo assess the therapeutic effect of catheter thrombolysis combined with inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement in treatment of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) complicated with floating IVC thrombus. MethodsThe clinical data of 16 patients with DVT complicated with floating IVC thrombus from July 2013 to November 2014 in this hospital were collected. These patients were treated with the catheter thrombolysis combined with IVC filter placement, the IVC filter was placed via jugular vein, the catheter thrombolysis was performed by the side of the small saphenous vein, the amount of urokinase was (60-80) ×104 U/d. Results①The floating IVC thrombi of 13 patients were disappeared following catheter thrombolysis combined with IVC filter placement therapy, a small amount of visible thrombi were adhered on the recycled IVC filter, the lower limb swelling was relieved, the IVC could effectively open.②The IVC filters of 2 patients could not be recycled due to the adhesion of floating IVC thrombus and lumen of IVC resulting in luminal stenosis.③The floating IVC thrombus of 1 patient was disappeared, the IVC filter could not be recy-cled due to a large of thrombi adhered on the IVC filter. The lower limb swelling was slowly relieved. The complications such as severe pulmonary embolism didn't happen in all the patients during treatment and following-up. ConclusionThe limited data preliminarily shows that it is an effective and safe method by catheter thrombolysis combined with IVC filter placement in treatment of DVT complicated with floating IVC thrombus.