Patent Foramen Ovale and Closure Technique with the Amplatzer Occluder

Proof that percutaneous closure of the patent foramen ovale (PFO) is superior to medical treatment is still incomplete. Paradoxical embolism is a rare event occurring over decades rather than years. None of the 4 randomized trials published carried enough patients or was followed up for long enough...

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Main Author: Bernhard Meier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:Scientifica
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/129196
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author Bernhard Meier
author_facet Bernhard Meier
author_sort Bernhard Meier
collection DOAJ
description Proof that percutaneous closure of the patent foramen ovale (PFO) is superior to medical treatment is still incomplete. Paradoxical embolism is a rare event occurring over decades rather than years. None of the 4 randomized trials published carried enough patients or was followed up for long enough to reach superiority endpoints. All data, however, point to a benefit of PFO closure. Free wall erosion (exceedingly rare) and triggering of atrial fibrillation (in about 1% of patients) are the only noteworthy complications. They are outweighed by the supposedly prevented events of paradoxical embolisms, such as stroke, transient ischemic attacks, myocardial infarctions, or other systemic embolisms. Medical treatment with perhaps the exception of lifelong oral anticoagulation provides less protection. During a 10-year follow-up of a comparative study the annual mortality was significantly lower in the patients with PFO closure (0.4%) than in those with medical treatment (1.1%, P<0.03). PFO closure can be accomplished in less than 1 hour with immediate resumption of physical activity. It represents thus a kind of mechanical vaccination.
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spelling doaj-art-247c8d74b15f4bda834e4cfa884b80b82025-02-03T06:00:08ZengWileyScientifica2090-908X2014-01-01201410.1155/2014/129196129196Patent Foramen Ovale and Closure Technique with the Amplatzer OccluderBernhard Meier0Cardiovascular Department, Bern University Hospital, 3010 Bern, SwitzerlandProof that percutaneous closure of the patent foramen ovale (PFO) is superior to medical treatment is still incomplete. Paradoxical embolism is a rare event occurring over decades rather than years. None of the 4 randomized trials published carried enough patients or was followed up for long enough to reach superiority endpoints. All data, however, point to a benefit of PFO closure. Free wall erosion (exceedingly rare) and triggering of atrial fibrillation (in about 1% of patients) are the only noteworthy complications. They are outweighed by the supposedly prevented events of paradoxical embolisms, such as stroke, transient ischemic attacks, myocardial infarctions, or other systemic embolisms. Medical treatment with perhaps the exception of lifelong oral anticoagulation provides less protection. During a 10-year follow-up of a comparative study the annual mortality was significantly lower in the patients with PFO closure (0.4%) than in those with medical treatment (1.1%, P<0.03). PFO closure can be accomplished in less than 1 hour with immediate resumption of physical activity. It represents thus a kind of mechanical vaccination.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/129196
spellingShingle Bernhard Meier
Patent Foramen Ovale and Closure Technique with the Amplatzer Occluder
Scientifica
title Patent Foramen Ovale and Closure Technique with the Amplatzer Occluder
title_full Patent Foramen Ovale and Closure Technique with the Amplatzer Occluder
title_fullStr Patent Foramen Ovale and Closure Technique with the Amplatzer Occluder
title_full_unstemmed Patent Foramen Ovale and Closure Technique with the Amplatzer Occluder
title_short Patent Foramen Ovale and Closure Technique with the Amplatzer Occluder
title_sort patent foramen ovale and closure technique with the amplatzer occluder
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/129196
work_keys_str_mv AT bernhardmeier patentforamenovaleandclosuretechniquewiththeamplatzeroccluder