Percutaneous Closure of Patent Foramen Ovale in Young Patients With Cryptogenic Stroke: Long-Term Follow-up

Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been proposed as a therapeutic option for cryptogenic stroke. The aim of this article was to describe the experience with this treatment at our center. Up until February 2006, percutaneous closure of PFO was carried out in 52 patients who presented with one or more cryptogenic strokes or transient ischemic attacks. The procedure was carried out under anesthesia and was guided by transesophageal echocardiography. The overall success rate was 100%. Transesophageal echocardiography carried out immediately after device implantation found no evidence of right-to-left shunting in 27 patients. During a mean follow-up of 26 months in 49 patients, none presented with a new ischemic episode or with complications attributable to the device. Echocardiographic follow-up showed that the foramen ovale had been completely sealed in all cases.