Transcatheter closure of interatrial communications for secondary prevention of paradoxical embolism: single-center experience.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Patients with a patent foramen ovale (PFO) after cerebral, coronary, or systemic embolic events of presumed paradoxical origin are at risk for recurrent thromboembolism. We report our single-center experience of interventional closure of interatrial communications for secondary prevention of presumed paradoxical embolism. Methods and Results- Since 1997, percutaneous closure of interatrial communications was performed at our institution in 66 patients (mean age 47.8+/-12.7 years; 31 males) with a PFO or an atrial septal defect and at least 1 documented presumed paradoxical thromboembolic event. Fifty-eight patients had cerebral embolism, 10 had coronary embolism, and 3 had peripheral embolism. Several patients experienced multilocal arterial embolism. Fifty-four patients had a PFO, 33 of them with an atrial septal aneurysm, and 12 had an atrial septal defect. The implantation procedure was successful and without complication in all patients. After 3 months, only 2 patients showed a residual shunt, which disappeared in both cases after 12 months. In 112.2 patient-years of follow-up (range, 5 weeks to 3.5 years), we have not seen any recurrent thromboembolic event.

CONCLUSIONS:

Interventional closure of interatrial communications is a safe and effective therapeutic option for the secondary prevention of presumed paradoxical embolism. To further evaluate this strategy, randomized trials comparing interventional closure with anticoagulation have been initiated by us and others.

• Authors: Leonhard Bruch, Anne Parsi, Marc Oliver Grad, Sascha Rux, Telse Burmeister, Heike Krebs, Franz Xaver Kleber
• Journal: Circulation (Circulation) Vol. 105 Issue 24 Pg. 2845-8 (Jun 18 2002) ISSN: 1524-4539 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 12070111 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Atrial Fibrillation (etiology)
• Cardiac Catheterization (adverse effects, methods)
• Embolism, Paradoxical (prevention & control)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Heart Septal Defects, Atrial (surgery)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prostheses and Implants