Long-term results after fluoroscopy-guided closure of patent foramen ovale for secondary prevention of paradoxical embolism

Wahl, A; Kunz, M; Moschovitis, A; Nageh, T; Schwerzmann, M; Seiler, C; Mattle, H P; Windecker, S; Meier, B (2008). Long-term results after fluoroscopy-guided closure of patent foramen ovale for secondary prevention of paradoxical embolism. Heart, 94(3), pp. 336-41. London: BMJ Publishing Group 10.1136/hrt.2007.118505

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OBJECTIVES: To carry out long-term follow-up after percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients with cryptogenic stroke. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Single tertiary care centre. PARTICIPANTS: 525 consecutive patients (mean (SD) age 51 (12) years; 56% male). INTERVENTIONS: Percutaneous PFO closure without intraprocedural echocardiography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Freedom from recurrent embolic events. RESULTS: A mean (SD) of 1.7 (1.0) clinically apparent embolic events occurred for each patient, and 186 patients (35%) had >1 event. An atrial septal aneurysm was associated with the PFO in 161 patients (31%). All patients were followed up prospectively for up to 11 years. The implantation procedure failed in two patients (0.4%). There were 13 procedural complications (2.5%) without any long-term sequelae. Contrast transoesophageal echocardiography at 6 months showed complete closure in 86% of patients, and a minimal, moderate or large residual shunt in 9%, 3% and 2%, respectively. Patients with small occluders (<30 mm; n = 429) had fewer residual shunts (small 11% vs large 27%; p<0.001). During a mean (SD) follow-up of 2.9 (2.2) years (median 2.3 years; total 1534 patient-years), six ischaemic strokes, nine transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) and two peripheral emboli occurred. Freedom from recurrent stroke, TIA, or peripheral embolism was 98% at 1 year, 97% at 2 years and 96% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. A residual shunt (hazard ratio = 3.4; 95% CI 1.3 to 9.2) was a risk factor for recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: This study attests to the long-term safety and efficacy of percutaneous PFO closure guided by fluoroscopy only for secondary prevention of paradoxical embolism in a large cohort of consecutive patients.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Cardiovascular Disorders (DHGE) > Clinic of Cardiology
UniBE Contributor:	Wahl, Andreas, Moschovitis, Aris, Schwerzmann, Markus, Seiler, Christian, Windecker, Stephan, Meier, Bernhard
ISSN:	1355-6037
ISBN:	17639093
Publisher:	BMJ Publishing Group
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 14:55
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:17
Publisher DOI:	10.1136/hrt.2007.118505
PubMed ID:	17639093
Web of Science ID:	000253193700019
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/23252 (FactScience: 40722)