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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

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Current evidence for closure of a patent foramen ovale for cryptogenic stroke prevention

E Rhone1, N Chung, B Clapp

  • 1Kings College London Medical School, London, UK.

International Journal of Clinical Practice
|December 31, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Patent foramen ovale closure may be a viable option for cryptogenic stroke prevention. This review examines recent trials comparing PFO closure to medical therapy for secondary stroke prevention.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Medical Devices

Background:

  • Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is associated with cryptogenic stroke (CS), a significant cause of ischemic stroke.
  • The efficacy of PFO closure versus medical therapy for secondary stroke prevention remains under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and compare evidence on percutaneous PFO closure against medical therapy for secondary stroke prevention.
  • To analyze recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in this field.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on comparative studies of PFO closure and medical therapy.
  • Analysis of three recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Main Results:

  • Evidence comparing PFO closure to medical therapy for secondary stroke prevention is still evolving.
  • Recent RCTs provide critical data for evaluating treatment strategies.

Conclusions:

  • Further research and analysis of RCTs are necessary to determine the optimal secondary prevention strategy for patients with PFO and CS.
  • The role of PFO closure in stroke prevention requires continued evaluation in light of new evidence.

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