In adults with patent foramen ovale (PFO) who have had a stroke, is transcatheter closure of the PFO better than medical therapy for secondary stroke prevention?

Abstract

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER Transcatheter device closure (TDC) for PFO after a stroke is not better than medical therapy for secondary stroke prevention. Furthermore, TDC increases the risk of newonset atrial fibrillation (SOR: B, systematic review of RCTs with high risk of bias). A clinical practice guideline does not recommend TDC over medical therapy for secondary stroke prevention in patients with PFO and cryptogenic stroke (SOR: C, consensus opinion).