Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Closure of a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO): An Intervention Sequence
Published on: December 23, 2022
[Development of thrombi on an Amplatzer PFO Occluder]
Birgitte Nielsen1, Ole May, Henning Mølgaard
1Arhus Universitetshospital, Skejby Sygehus, Hjertemedicinsk Afdeling B. birgittenielsen@dadlnet.dk
Abstract:
In a 37-year-old female with previous paradoxical embolism and an identified PFO, a transcatheter closure of the defect was performed with an Amplatzer PFO Occluder. The patient suffered additional embolic episodes, and three months after the implantation, echocardiography showed several thrombi attached to the right side of the occluder, despite continuous administration of aspirin and the absence of significant coagulation disorders. The PFO may have been an innocent bystander, and the thrombogenic potential of the device and the optimal antithrombotic treatment need further investigation.
Related Concept Videos
Clot Retraction and Fibrinolysis
Venous Thrombosis I: Introduction
Formation of the Platelet Plug
As the injured blood vessel contracts, endothelial cells undergo contraction, revealing collagen fibers in the basement membrane and underlying connective tissue. Furthermore, the plasma membrane of endothelial cells becomes adhesive, preparing the site for platelet adhesion. Platelets...

