The transcatheter treatment of patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been shown to reduce thromboembolic events in patients with cryptogenic stroke. However, most of large randomized studies have failed to include patients with thrombophilia, either inherited or acquired. For instance, the RESPECT study excluded patients with antiphospholipid antibodies (AFA) or hyperhomocysteinemia, while the REDUCE screened for…
Bulletin 116 ProEducar | Percutaneous Closure of Patent Foramen Ovale
A new edition of the ProEducar Educational Bulletin has arrived for Fellows and interventionists in training. On this occasion, this bulletin addresses in depth the Percutaneous Closure of the Patent Foramen Ovale. Discover the ProEducar Educational Bulletin HERE (spanish version)
DEFENSE-PFO: High Risk PFO Closure Reduces Combined Events and Stroke Risk
High risk patent foramen ovale closure PFO resulted in reduced stroke, vascular death and bleeding risk. Recent reports have shown a favorable role of PFO in patients with cryptogenic stroke, though with some unclear results, which immediately raised the questions: Who are the optimal candidates for this procedure, and who will see no benefit? …
Stroke, Migraine and Patent Foramen Ovale Not Necessarily Temporary Associated
Cryptogenic stroke patients with migraine have high prevalence (79%) of patent foramen ovale (PFO) with right to left shunt. However, the timing of stroke in migraineurs is not usually associated to a migraine attack. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that the most likely mechanism of stroke in these patients with migraine is a…
ACC 2018 | Echocardiographic Data Help Better Choose Patients for Patent Foramen Ovale Closure
A new randomized controlled trial of patients who underwent patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure in cryptogenic stroke may provide certain morphological echocardiographic features that might allow us to better choose patients who would benefit more from PFO closure versus those for whom medical therapy would be more appropriate. Among patients with a recent cryptogenic stroke…
REDUCE Trial: Patients with PFO and cryptogenic stroke at lower risk of recurrent stoke when treated with APT and closure device
Courtesy of Dr. José Álvarez. This is a multicenter randomized study on patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) and a first episode of cryptogenic stroke. It only included patients with moderate to large shunt based on the number of bubbles observed in the left atrium within the first three beats after being noticed in the…