Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026

10:52
Closure of a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO): An Intervention Sequence
Published on: December 23, 2022
Ischemic stroke and patent foramen ovale: case report
Carlos Eduardo Amaral Pereira da Silva1, Thiago Cardoso Vale, Flávio José Barbosa Leite
1Department of Morphology, Monte Sinai Hospital, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Avenida Barão do Rio Branco 2370/802, 36010-011 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. carloseduardo@neuroclinicajf.com.br
Arquivos De Neuro-Psiquiatria
|October 24, 2006
Summary
Cryptogenic strokes, often without a clear cause, may be linked to patent foramen ovale. This case study details a young woman
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Cryptogenic stroke accounts for approximately 40% of ischemic strokes.
- Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a potential risk factor for cerebral embolism.
- Understanding the link between PFO and stroke is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Observation:
- A 29-year-old woman presented with an ischemic stroke.
- The stroke was diagnosed as being due to a patent foramen ovale.
- The patient underwent percutaneous endovascular closure of the PFO.
Findings:
- This case highlights the successful percutaneous closure of a PFO in a young patient with cryptogenic stroke.
- The report discusses the clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, and management strategies for PFO-related stroke.
- Recurrence and long-term outcomes are considered.
Implications:
- Percutaneous PFO closure may be an effective treatment for select patients with cryptogenic stroke.
- Further research is warranted to optimize patient selection and procedural techniques.
- This case contributes to the understanding of PFO as a cause of stroke and its management.
Related Concept Videos
Ischemic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology
An ischemic stroke occurs when a cerebral blood vessel becomes obstructed, most often by a thrombus or embolus, interrupting the delivery of oxygen and glucose to brain tissue. Because neurons rely on continuous aerobic metabolism, energy failure begins within minutes of reduced perfusion. The region receiving the least blood flow becomes the infarct core, an area of irreversible cellular death. Surrounding this core lies the penumbra, a zone of hypoperfused but still viable tissue that is...
Ischemic Stroke l: Introduction
Ischemic stroke is an acute cerebrovascular condition in which blood flow to a brain region is suddenly interrupted, leading to tissue infarction. Neurons depend on continuous oxygen and glucose supply, so even brief reductions in perfusion cause energy failure, ionic imbalance, and irreversible injury. Ischemic strokes are classified into thrombotic and embolic types based on their underlying mechanisms.Thrombotic MechanismsThrombotic stroke develops when a clot forms within a cerebral artery.
Hemorrhagic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology
A hemorrhagic stroke develops when a cerebral blood vessel ruptures, allowing blood to escape into the surrounding brain tissue, as in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), or into the subarachnoid space, as in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Because the skull is a rigid compartment, the sudden presence of extravascular blood rapidly increases intracranial pressure and compresses adjacent neural structures, leading to immediate tissue injury and impaired cerebral perfusion.Mass Effect and Primary...
Transient Ischemic Attack l: Introduction
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a brief episode of neurological dysfunction caused by a temporary, focal reduction in cerebral blood flow. Although symptoms resemble those of an ischemic stroke, the interruption in perfusion is short-lived and does not cause permanent infarction. TIAs are clinically important because they often serve as early warning events for future stroke.Mechanisms of Transient Cerebral IschemiaTransient cerebral ischemia may arise through several mechanisms. One...
