INTERVENTIONAL VASCULAR PROCEDURES 

Minerva Cardioangiologica 2006 February;54(1):31-9

Copyright © 2006 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Percutaneous transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale

Chatterjee T., Ritz A., Rehders T. C., Ince H., Kische S., Petzsch M., Nienaber C. A.

Division of Cardiology University Hospital Rostock, Rostock, Germany

In presence of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) with cryptogenic cerebral embolism, traditional therapy consists of oral anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy. Surgery was considered only in case of recurrence. Transcatheter closure of PFO is currently performed. The availability of new user friendly devices and the increasing knowledge of pathophysiology, epidemiology, and follow-up of these patients has broadened the indications and marked reduced morbitity related to interventional PFO closure. This review presents the current knowledge and our own data concerning transcatheter closure of PFO.