Patent foramen ovale closure for secondary stroke prevention

Abstract

Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients with cryptogenic stroke is gaining momentum after the recent publication of four randomized clinical trials suggesting its benefit. This article provides a contemporary overview of the anatomy and pathophysiology of PFO, the available diagnostic tools for the assessment and risk stratification of PFO, and the current and future landscape of PFO closure devices and their optimal utilization. It also summarizes the current data on PFO closure for stroke prevention, and discusses the remaining open issues in the field of PFO closure.

Keywords: Cryptogenic stroke; Device closure; Patent foramen ovale; Stroke prevention.