Very Late Patent Foramen Ovale Occluder Device Structural Dysfunction and Thrombosis

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Interventional Cardiology
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure is a common procedure to prevent stroke.
• Mechanical dysfunction of PFO closure devices is a rare complication.

Observation:

• A 58-year-old male experienced multiple ischemic strokes three years post-PFO closure.
• The strokes were attributed to mechanical dysfunction and thrombosis of the PFO closure device.

Findings:

• The patient's recurrent ischemic strokes were directly linked to PFO device mechanical failure.
• Thrombosis formation on the malfunctioning device was identified as a contributing factor.

Implications:

• This case highlights a rare but serious complication of PFO closure devices.
• Surgical intervention can be an effective treatment for mechanical PFO device dysfunction and associated thromboembolic events.