Percutaneous atrial shunt closure and the risk of recurrent ischemic stroke: A register-based, nationwide cohort study

Patent foramen ovale may cause paradoxical emboli1. Cryptogenic ischemic cerebrovascular events (stroke or transient ischemic attack) (CVE) accounts for about 25% of ischemic strokes.2,3 Transcatheter closure of atrial shunts, including atrial septal defects (ASD) and patent foramen ovale (PFO), was introduced in 1996.4-6 Initially,randomized studies failed7-9 but more recent randomized studies have shown superiority of interventional treatment, with 68 % reduction of recurrent stroke after transcatheter closure of PFO compared with medical treatment in patients with cryptogenic CVE.
Source: Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases - Category: Neurology Authors: Source Type: research