Patent foramen ovale: Closure in young stroke patients?

+Practice
In print
HEARTBEAT

Patent foramen ovale: Closure in young stroke patients?

Chris Ellis

Chris Ellis

Broken heart
Fixing a small hole in he heart

A young woman recovers from a small stroke and questions you about percutaneous closure of a PFO. Auckland cardiologist Chris Ellis reviews the latest studies to guide your discussion

In the Danish REDUCE trial, a 77 per cent relative reduction [in stroke] with the PFO closure group was seen A 32-year-old secretary presents to , ECG
References

1. Saver JL, Carroll JD, Thaler DE et al. for the RESPECT Investigators. Long-term outcomes of patent foramen ovale closure or medical therapy after stroke. N Engl J Med 2017;377:1022–32. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1610057

2. Søndergaard L, Kasner SE, Rhodes JF et al. for the Gore REDUCE Clinical Study Investigators. Patent foramen ovale closure or antiplatelet therapy for cryptogenic stroke. N Engl J Med 2017;377:1033–42. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1707404

3. Mas J-L, Derumeaux G, Guillon B et al. for the CLOSE Investigators. Patent foramen ovale closure or anticoagulation vs. antiplatelets after stroke. N Engl J Med 2017;377:1011–21. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1705915

4. Farb A, Ibrahim NG, Zuckerman BD. Patent foramen ovale after cryptogenic stroke – assessing the evidence for closure. N Engl J Med 2017;377:1006–09. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp1700218

5. Ropper AH. Tipping point for patent foramen ovale closure [editorial]. N Engl J Med 2017;377:1093–95.