Echocardiography Detection of High-Risk Patent Foramen Ovale Morphology

Amiliana M Soesanto

doi:10.30701/ijc.1098

Abstract

Patent Foramen Ovale occurs in 25% of the general population1. Several studies suggested that paradoxical embolism through a patent foramen ovale (PFO) correlate with cryptogenic strokes (CS). Many epidemiological and clinical observational studies, showed the association between CS and the presence of PFO. There is still a controversy whether PFO should be closed. The information about PFO morphology might be useful for the management of PFO. This article is discussing a technical information about how echocardiography detects PFO and identifies high risk morphologies for the occurrence of PFO related -stroke.

Highlights

Patent foramen ovale occurs in 25% of the general population.[1]
A meta-analysis showed that patients with cryptogenic stroke/ TIA and patent foramen ovale who have their patent foramen ovale closed, ischemic stroke recurrence is less frequent compared with patients receiving medical treatment
Interatrial shunt occurs for approximately 6% -10% of congenital heart disease, with secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent foramen ovale are among the commonest lesion

Summary

Introduction

Patent foramen ovale occurs in 25% of the general population.[1]. Several studies suggested that paradoxical embolism through a patent foramen ovale correlate with cryptogenic strokes (CS). Earlier studies reported that patent foramen ovale closure did not significantly reduce a composite of death and neurological events2-4.2-4 More recent studies included some specific patent foramen ovale morphologies and showed the positive result of patent foramen ovale closure to reduce the outcome.[5,6,7,8]. Perhaps these specific morphologies for screening the candidate could explain the different result between the earlier and later studies. This article discusses how echocardiography detects patent foramen ovale and identifies high-risk morphologies for the occurrence of patent foramen ovale related -stroke

How to evaluate interatrial septum

How to evaluate patent foramen ovale

Maximal total point

Summary