Znaczenie przetrwałego otworu owalnego u pacjenta kwalifikowanego do zabiegu ortotopowego przeszczepienia wątroby

Persistent foramen ovale (PFO) is a congenital defect of interatrial septum, that in majority of patients stays asymptomatic. However, in conditions that lead to increased pressure in right atrium over left atrium, it may lead to blood shunt from the right to the left atrium. We are presenting a case report of 63-years-old male who was referred to the qualification for the orthotopic liver transplantation due to the decompensated liver cirrhosis. During transesophageal echocardiography with contrast PFO was detected. In the literature cases suggesting increased perioperative risk in patients with PFO are described. It is both related to air embolisms connected with the transplantation itself and possibility of crossed embolisms. For this reason, the patient was scheduled to the transcatheter PFO closure, after which he could have liver transplantation. The operation was performed a month later, uneventfully.