Interventional Closure with Amplatzer PFO Occluder of Patent Foramen Ovale in Patients with Paradoxical Cerebral Embolism

Percutaneous transcatheter closure has been proposed as an alternative to surgical closure or long‐term anticoagulation in patients with presumed paradoxical embolism and patent foramen ovale (PFO). We report our mid‐term results of 55 consecutive symptomatic patients (mean age: 47 years, range: 20–79) who underwent percutaneous transcatheter closure of PFO after at least one event of cerebral ischemia; 16 (29%) patients had at least one transient ischemic attack and 39 (71%) patients at least one embolic stroke. Multiple embolic events had occurred in 6 (11%) patients. Percutaneous transcatheter closure was technically successful in all 55 patients (100%). For the majority of patients, an Amplatzer PFO occluder measuring 25 mm in diameter (n = 49) or an Amplatzer PFO occluder measuring 35 mm in diameter (n = 6) was used. Complete occlusion by color Doppler and transesophageal contrast echocardiography investigation was achieved in 96% at follow‐up 3‐6 months after implantation; only 2 patients had a trivial residual shunt at follow‐up. Mean fluoroscopy time was 6.7 minutes (range: 1.7–47.1), and in‐hospital follow‐up was uneventful except for 1 patient who developed a cardiac tamponade requiring uneventful and successful needle pericardiocentesis. At a mean follow‐up of 19 months (range: 3–32) no recurrent embolic neurological events was observed. Transcatheter closure of PFO with Amplatzer PFO occluder devices is a safe and effective therapy for patients with previous paradoxical embolism and aneurysmatic or nonaneurysmatic PFO. Percutaneous closure is associated with a high success rate, low incidence of hospital complications, and freedom of cerebral ischemia events.