Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 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

[Acute bilateral thalamic infarcts in a young man with patent foramen ovale]

Venice Chávez-Valencia1, Elizabeth Soto-Cabrera

  • 1Medicina Interna, Hospital Central Sur de Alta Especialidad Pemex, México D.F., México. drvenicechv@yahoo.com.mx

Gaceta Medica De Mexico
|April 29, 2010
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is linked to strokes in young adults. This case highlights PFO as a potential cause of cryptogenic stroke, emphasizing the need for thorough evaluation in young patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a potential risk factor for cryptogenic stroke in young individuals.
  • Cerebrovascular disease significantly impacts young patients, necessitating focused medical attention.

Observation:

  • A 27-year-old male presented with acute confusional syndrome, aphasia, bradypsychia, and somnolence.
  • Brain MRI revealed symmetrical bilateral thalamic infarctions, suggestive of Percheron artery occlusion (Type 2b).
  • Echocardiography identified a patent foramen ovale.

Findings:

  • The patient's symptoms and neuroimaging findings were consistent with a stroke.
  • The presence of a PFO in conjunction with stroke symptoms in a young patient suggests a possible embolic source.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of screening for PFO in young patients experiencing cryptogenic strokes.
  • Early diagnosis and management of PFO can potentially prevent recurrent cerebrovascular events.
  • Further research into the PFO-stroke association in younger demographics is warranted.

More Related Videos

Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Model of Neonatal Stroke in P10 Rats07:56

Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Model of Neonatal Stroke in P10 Rats

Published on: April 21, 2017

Permanent Cerebral Vessel Occlusion via Double Ligature and Transection08:22

Permanent Cerebral Vessel Occlusion via Double Ligature and Transection

Published on: July 21, 2013

Related Concept Videos

Transient Ischemic Attack l: Introduction01:26

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...
The Arch of Aorta01:10

The Arch of Aorta

The coronary arteries, originating from the ascending aorta, bifurcate from two sinuses located within the ascending aorta. Positioned just above the aortic semilunar valve, these sinuses house essential aortic baroreceptors and chemoreceptors, crucial for maintaining cardiac function. The left coronary artery and the right coronary artery branch off from the left posterior and anterior aortic sinuses, respectively.
Encircling the heart, the coronary arteries form a ring-like structure before...
Hemorrhagic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology01:29

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...