Objective To explorer the application value of the inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) implantation in the prevention of recurrent pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods Clinical data of 265 inpatients with PE admitted from November 2014 to November 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into an IVCF treatment group (55 cases) and an anticoagulant therapy group (210 cases) according to treatment measure. All patients were followed up for 3 months to 2 years through regular review. The one-year PE and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) recurrence rates, one-year mortality and two-year mortality were compared between two groups. Results The PE and DVT recurrence rates were 9.1% and 21.8% in the IVCF treatment group, and were 18.6% and 11.0% in the anticoagulant therapy group, respectively. The PE recurrence rate was lower and the DVT recurrence rate was higher in the IVCF treatment group compared with the anticoagulant therapy group, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The one-year mortality (29.1% vs. 12.9%) and two-year mortality (34.5% vs. 14.8%) were significantly higher in the IVCF treatment group than those in the anticoagulant therapy group (P<0.05). Conclusions IVCF without anticoagulation can reduce incidence of pulmonary embolism caused by the lower extremity DVT, but will increase DVT recurrence rate. It may be an alternative option for prevention of PE in patients with contraindications to anticoagulant therapy or recurrent PE patients after regular anticoagulant therapy.