Long term follow up after percutaneous closure of PFO in 357 patients with paradoxical embolism: Difference in occlusion systems and influence of atrial septum aneurysm

Abstract Background Percutaneous transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in cryptogenic stroke or TIA is an alternative to medical therapy especially in patients with atrial septal aneurysm (ASA). The differences in time to complete occlusion for various closure devices in PFO alone and PFO plus ASA are of natural interest. Methods and results Between January, 1st 1998 and November, 30th 2006 percutaneous PFO closure was performed in 357 patients with a history of ≥1 paradoxical embolism using three different devices: Amplatzer PFO-( n =199), Starflex-( n =48) and Helex Occluder ( n =110). All patients were assigned to a post-interventional protocol with contrast-enhanced transe…