Patent foramen ovale morphology and impact on percutaneous device closure

Long-term clinical outcomes for patients with uncrossable patent foramen ovale

Introduction

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure is performed in selected patients with cryptogenic stroke to prevent recurrence. The prognosis of patients with uncrossable PFO after failed guidewire or catheter passage during the procedure remains unknown. We compared the long-term prognosis between uncrossable PFO and successful PFO closure in patients with high-grade PFO shunts.

Methods

We analyzed patients who underwent PFO closure for stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) prevention at Gachon University Gil Medical Center between April 2010 and March 2022. The primary outcome was a composite of recurrent stroke or TIA. Secondary outcomes included stroke, TIA, all-cause death, and a composite of stroke, TIA, and all-cause death.

Results

Of 286 patients, 245 were included in the analysis after excluding those with transseptal puncture technique usage or concurrent atrial septal defect. Among them, 82 had uncrossable PFO, and 163 underwent successful PFO closure. Large shunts were more prevalent in the PFO closure group compared to the uncrossable PFO group (62.0% vs. 34.1%, P < 0.001), and resting shunts were also more common in the PFO closure group (17.8% vs. 2.4%, P < 0.001). Stroke or TIA occurred in 2 patients (2.4%) in the uncrossable PFO group and 8 patients (4.9%) in the PFO closure group (hazard ratio, 1.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-6.81; P = 0.647). Additionally, no disparities in the occurrence of stroke or TIA were found in subgroups divided by baseline characteristics, RoPE score, or shunt grade.

Conclusion

Clinical outcomes for patients with uncrossable PFO seem similar to those with successful PFO closure.

Influence of PFO Anatomy on Successful Transcatheter Closure

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is considered a risk factor for serious clinical syndromes, the most important of which is cryptogenic stroke in the setting of paradoxic embolism. The safety and feasibility of transcatheter PFO closure have been addressed in several studies; this procedure is performed worldwide with excellent results. Variations in the atrial septal configuration and PFO are frequent and have an impact on the technical aspects and success in transcatheter PFO closure. To minimize the rate of complications of percutaneous closure of PFO, patients must be carefully selected on the basis of morphology and location of the interatrial defect.

A follow-up study of neonatal interatrial shunt with echocardiography until twelve to fifteen months of age

OBJECTIVES

To assess the incidence and natural history of full-term neonates with interatrial shunt (IAS).

METHODS

A follow-up study of 1389 neonates who received screening echocardiography between 2003 and 2006. Babies with IAS at 2 to 4 days of life underwent follow-up echocardiography at 2 to 4 months, 6 to 9 months and 12 to 15 months of age until closure of IAS.

RESULTS

The ratio of IAS was 68.3% initially. No significant demographic differences were identified between infants with and without initial IAS. Among 949 neonates with initial IAS, 84.5% infants had a left-to-right interatrial shunt, 13.5% had bidirectional shunt and 2% had predominantly right-to-left shunt. The persistence rate of IAS at 12 to 15 months of age was 3.8% (44/1166). The initial size of IAS ranged from 1.2 to 7.7mm (4.3+/-1.1 mm) detected by color Doppler flow mapping and cases were divided into three groups: small (< or =5 mm), medium (5 to 8 mm) and large group (> or =8 mm). There were 74.6% infants in the small group and 25.4% in the medium group initially. The neonates in the initial small group would always see their IAS close or else they would remain in the small group. Those in the final medium and large size groups always came from the initial medium group. The late closure rate of IAS was 93.9% of infants with initial IAS. The closure curves of initial small and medium sized groups were significantly different, and their late closure rates were 95.1% and 90.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

IAS was very common during early neonatal stage, but most cases would close after 1 year. The late closure rate of initial IAS was different if using a cutpoint of 5 mm.

Advances in congenital heart surgery

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We provide an overview of the past year's literature on congenital heart surgery.

RECENT FINDINGS

This review focuses on selected disease entities, operative techniques, perioperative management strategies, and quality of care.

SUMMARY

Congenital heart surgery is an evolving field.