RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Patent foramen ovale: diagnostic evaluation and the role of device closure
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 441
OP 448
DO 10.7861/clinmed.2022-0040
VO 22
IS 5
A1 Ahmed R Gonnah
A1 Mahima S Bharadwaj
A1 Hassan Nassar
A1 Hesham K Abdelaziz
A1 David Hesketh Roberts
YR 2022
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/22/5/441.abstract
AB Although seemingly benign, the presence of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) may play an important role in the pathophysiology of disease, specifically a paradoxical embolism leading to cryptogenic stroke. The European Society of Cardiology recently published guidelines detailing how PFOs are associated with paradoxical embolism and how they are diagnosed and managed. This review guides physicians in the diagnostic and referral process to a multidisciplinary team involved in PFO closure. It reviews the clinical trials comparing device closure with medical therapy and highlights the current NHS England commissioning process on PFO management. Finally, we give an overview of other conditions where PFO device closure may need to be considered.