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Closure of a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO): An Intervention Sequence
10:52

Closure of a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO): An Intervention Sequence

Published on: December 23, 2022

[Patent foramen ovale--demographic, clinical and echocardiographic characteristics]

Marek Maciejewski1, Marzenna Zielińska, Halina Bolinska

  • 1Klinika Kardiologii I Katedry Kardiologii i Kardiochirurgii Uniwersytetu Medycznego, Lodzi. marekmaciejewski@poczta.fm

Przeglad Lekarski
|March 29, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a risk factor for systemic embolism/transient ischemic attack, but only when it is the sole cardiac abnormality. Minimal flow through PFO is typical in these cases.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Medicine
  • Embryology

Background:

  • Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is the most common persistent fetal circulatory abnormality.
  • PFO is associated with an increased risk of paradoxical embolism.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence and characteristics of PFO.
  • To evaluate PFO as a risk factor for paradoxical embolism.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 945 patients undergoing TEE (transesophageal echocardiography) between 1998-2002.
  • Patients were categorized based on PFO presence and history of systemic embolism (SE) or transient ischemic attack (TIA).
  • Subgroup analysis compared patients with isolated PFO versus those with PFO and other cardiac/aortic diseases.

Main Results:

  • PFO was diagnosed in 57 patients (6%).
  • The incidence of SE/TIA was significantly higher in patients with isolated PFO (xPFO(+)) compared to controls without PFO (xPFO(-)).
  • Higher shunt intensity was observed in patients with PFO and coexisting heart disease (yPFO(+)) compared to isolated PFO (xPFO(+)).

Conclusions:

  • PFO is a risk factor for SE/TIA exclusively in patients with isolated PFO.
  • Flow through PFO in isolated cases is generally minimal.
  • Coexisting heart pathology can lead to significant right-to-left or left-to-right shunting through a PFO.
Abstract

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