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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

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

Yun-Ching Fu1, Ziyad M Hijazi

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University, Taichung, Taiwan. ivanfu@vghtc.gov.tw

Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy
|September 27, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Patent foramen ovale closure is being studied as a stroke treatment. Current evidence does not confirm if device closure is better than medical therapy alone for cryptogenic stroke patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Medical Devices

Background:

  • Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a potential cause of cryptogenic stroke.
  • Medical therapy is the current standard of care for stroke prevention in PFO patients.

Observation:

  • The role of PFO in cryptogenic stroke remains controversial.
  • Device closure aims to prevent paradoxical embolism through the PFO.

Findings:

  • Evidence comparing PFO closure devices to medical therapy is limited.
  • Ongoing randomized controlled trials are investigating the efficacy of PFO closure.

Implications:

  • Results from ongoing trials will inform clinical guidelines for PFO management.
  • Optimal treatment strategies for cryptogenic stroke in PFO patients are under investigation.

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