Transcatheter Closure of Patent Foramen Ovale in Chinese Patients With Paradoxical Embolism: Immediate Results and Long-Term Follow-up

Background: The aim of the present study was to assess immediate and long-term clinical outcome of Chinese patent foramen ovale (PFO) patients with paradoxical embolism who underwent transcatheter PFO closure. Methods and Results: One hundred and ninety-two patients underwent transcatheter PFO closure for secondary prevention of thromboembolic events (TE). During the procedure, 7 patients had frequent atrial premature beats or transient atrial tachycardia in implantation and 1 patient had a transitory ST-elevation in leads II, III and aVF. These complications converted spontaneously after a few minutes. No cases of procedure-related death or TE were observed during hospitalization. Minor adverse events, including chest discomfort (11%), palpitations (25%) and dyspnea (1%) were reported within 1 month of the procedure. These symptoms had disappeared in most patients by 6-month follow-up. One patient had a new occurrence of migraine at 27 months after the implantation. Within a median follow-up of 49±8 months, no residual shunt of the atrial level was identified and correct positioning of the device was confirmed on transthoracic echocardiography in all patients. No death related to any cause or recurrent TE were recorded. Conclusions: Transcatheter PFO closure is a minimally invasive procedure with a high success rate, low complication rate and an excellent long-term outcome, and appears to be a wise approach for secondary prevention of recurrent embolic events in symptomatic patients. (Circ J 2011; 75: 1867-1871)