BACKGROUND: Optimal management of patients with PFO and paradoxical embolic events is still debated. Moreover, data from long-term studies on large patient populations are lacking. Aim of the study is to assess immediate and long-term clinical outcome of patients with PFO and paradoxical thrombo-embolic events submitted to transcatheter PFO closure. METHODS: Only patients with PFO-related transient ischemic attack or stroke underwent PFO closure. Patients were evaluated clinically and echocardiographically at 1, 6 and 12 months after the procedure and yearly thereafter. Primary endpoints were death, recurrent stroke or TIA. Residual right-to left shunt (RLS) was monitored by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) or transcranial Doppler (TCD) at 6 months'follow-up. RESULTS: 202 consecutive patients underwent percutaneous PFO closure for secondary prevention of TE. Device migration was observed in one patient 24 h after the procedure. No cases of procedure-related death or stroke occurred during a median follow-up of 3+/-1.3 years. Three recurrent TIAs were observed within the first 6 months of follow-up. The cumulative estimated probability of recurrent TE-free survival rate after PFO closure was 99% in patients <or=55 years, 84% in patients >55 years (p<0.05) and 94% and 100% in patients with PFO, with or without atrial septal aneurysm (ASA), respectively (p<0.05). Of the 188 (93%) patients submitted to TTE or TCD at 6 months' follow-up, 8 (4%) presented a small RLS. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter PFO closure is associated with low incidence of in-hospital complications and low frequency of recurrent TE at long-term follow-up. Copyright (c) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
BACKGROUND: Optimal management of patients with PFO and paradoxical embolic events is still debated. Moreover, data from long-term studies on large patient populations are lacking. Aim of the study is to assess immediate and long-term clinical outcome of patients with PFO and paradoxical thrombo-embolic events submitted to transcatheter PFO closure. METHODS: Only patients with PFO-related transient ischemic attack or stroke underwent PFO closure. Patients were evaluated clinically and echocardiographically at 1, 6 and 12 months after the procedure and yearly thereafter. Primary endpoints were death, recurrent stroke or TIA. Residual right-to left shunt (RLS) was monitored by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) or transcranial Doppler (TCD) at 6 months'follow-up. RESULTS: 202 consecutive patients underwent percutaneous PFO closure for secondary prevention of TE. Device migration was observed in one patient 24 h after the procedure. No cases of procedure-related death or stroke occurred during a median follow-up of 3+/-1.3 years. Three recurrent TIAs were observed within the first 6 months of follow-up. The cumulative estimated probability of recurrent TE-free survival rate after PFO closure was 99% in patients <or=55 years, 84% in patients >55 years (p<0.05) and 94% and 100% in patients with PFO, with or without atrial septal aneurysm (ASA), respectively (p<0.05). Of the 188 (93%) patients submitted to TTE or TCD at 6 months' follow-up, 8 (4%) presented a small RLS. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter PFO closure is associated with low incidence of in-hospital complications and low frequency of recurrent TE at long-term follow-up. Copyright (c) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors: U Laufs; U C Hoppe; S Rosenkranz; P Kirchhof; M Böhm; H-C Diener; M Endres; M Grond; W Hacke; T Meinertz; E B Ringelstein; J Röther; M Dichgans Journal: Nervenarzt Date: 2010-04 Impact factor: 1.214
Authors: Ulrich Laufs; Uta C Hoppe; Stephan Rosenkranz; Paulus Kirchhof; Michael Böhm; Hans-Christoph Diener; Matthias Endres; Martin Grond; Werner Hacke; Thomas Meinertz; E Bernd Ringelstein; Joachim Röther; Martin Dichgans Journal: Clin Res Cardiol Date: 2010-08-03 Impact factor: 5.460
Authors: Christoph Hammerstingl; B Bauriedel; C Stüsser; D Momcilovic; I Tuleta; G Nickenig; D Skowasch Journal: Eur J Med Res Date: 2011-01-27 Impact factor: 2.175