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Apostolos A, Alexiou P, Papanikolaou A, Trantalis G, Drakopoulou M, Ktenopoulos N, Kachrimanidis I, Vlachakis PK, Tsakiri I, Chrysostomidis G, Aggeli K, Tsioufis C, Toutouzas K. Patent Foramen Ovale Closure in Special Clinical Situations: More Questions Than Answers? Life (Basel) 2024; 14:706. [PMID: 38929689 PMCID: PMC11204715 DOI: 10.3390/life14060706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a remnant of the foetal circulation resulting from incomplete occlusion of the septum primum and septum secundum. Although prevalent in about 25% of the population, it mainly remains asymptomatic. However, its clinical significance in situations such as cryptogenic stroke, migraine, and decompression illness (DCI) has been well described. Recent randomised clinical trials (RCTs) have demonstrated the efficacy of percutaneous PFO closure over pharmacological therapy alone for secondary stroke prevention in carefully selected patients. Notably, these trials have excluded older patients or those with concurrent thrombophilia. Furthermore, the role of closure in other clinical conditions associated with PFO, like decompression sickness (DCS) and migraines, remains under investigation. Our review aims to summarise the existing literature regarding epidemiology, pathophysiological mechanisms, optimal management, and closure indications for these special patient groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Apostolos
- First Department of Cardiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocration General Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (A.A.); (P.A.); (G.T.); (M.D.); (N.K.); (I.K.); (P.K.V.); (I.T.); (K.A.); (C.T.)
| | - Polyxeni Alexiou
- First Department of Cardiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocration General Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (A.A.); (P.A.); (G.T.); (M.D.); (N.K.); (I.K.); (P.K.V.); (I.T.); (K.A.); (C.T.)
| | - Amalia Papanikolaou
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Universitatklinikum Essen, 451 47 Essen, Germany;
| | - Georgios Trantalis
- First Department of Cardiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocration General Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (A.A.); (P.A.); (G.T.); (M.D.); (N.K.); (I.K.); (P.K.V.); (I.T.); (K.A.); (C.T.)
| | - Maria Drakopoulou
- First Department of Cardiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocration General Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (A.A.); (P.A.); (G.T.); (M.D.); (N.K.); (I.K.); (P.K.V.); (I.T.); (K.A.); (C.T.)
| | - Nikolaos Ktenopoulos
- First Department of Cardiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocration General Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (A.A.); (P.A.); (G.T.); (M.D.); (N.K.); (I.K.); (P.K.V.); (I.T.); (K.A.); (C.T.)
| | - Ioannis Kachrimanidis
- First Department of Cardiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocration General Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (A.A.); (P.A.); (G.T.); (M.D.); (N.K.); (I.K.); (P.K.V.); (I.T.); (K.A.); (C.T.)
| | - Panayotis K. Vlachakis
- First Department of Cardiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocration General Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (A.A.); (P.A.); (G.T.); (M.D.); (N.K.); (I.K.); (P.K.V.); (I.T.); (K.A.); (C.T.)
| | - Ismini Tsakiri
- First Department of Cardiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocration General Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (A.A.); (P.A.); (G.T.); (M.D.); (N.K.); (I.K.); (P.K.V.); (I.T.); (K.A.); (C.T.)
| | - Grigorios Chrysostomidis
- Second Department of Adult Cardiac Surgery, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, 176 74 Athens, Greece;
| | - Konstantina Aggeli
- First Department of Cardiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocration General Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (A.A.); (P.A.); (G.T.); (M.D.); (N.K.); (I.K.); (P.K.V.); (I.T.); (K.A.); (C.T.)
| | - Costas Tsioufis
- First Department of Cardiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocration General Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (A.A.); (P.A.); (G.T.); (M.D.); (N.K.); (I.K.); (P.K.V.); (I.T.); (K.A.); (C.T.)
| | - Konstantinos Toutouzas
- First Department of Cardiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocration General Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (A.A.); (P.A.); (G.T.); (M.D.); (N.K.); (I.K.); (P.K.V.); (I.T.); (K.A.); (C.T.)
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Devos P, Guedeney P, Montalescot G. Patent Foramen Ovale Percutaneous Closure: Evolution and Ongoing Challenges. J Clin Med 2023; 13:54. [PMID: 38202061 PMCID: PMC10780039 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13010054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Patent foramen ovale (PFO) concerns nearly a quarter of the general population and incidence may reach up to 50% in patients with cryptogenic stroke. Recent randomized clinical trials confirmed that percutaneous closure of PFO-related stroke reduces the risk of embolic event recurrence. PFO also comes into play in other pathogenic conditions, such as migraine, decompression sickness or platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome, where the heterogeneity of patients is high and evidence for closure is less well-documented. In this review, we describe the current indications for PFO percutaneous closure and the remaining challenges, and try to provide future directions regarding the technique and its indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perrine Devos
- ACTION Study Group, INSERM UMRS_1166 Institut de Cardiologie (AP-HP), Sorbonne Université, 75005 Paris, France; (P.D.); (P.G.)
| | - Paul Guedeney
- ACTION Study Group, INSERM UMRS_1166 Institut de Cardiologie (AP-HP), Sorbonne Université, 75005 Paris, France; (P.D.); (P.G.)
| | - Gilles Montalescot
- ACTION Study Group, INSERM UMRS_1166 Institut de Cardiologie (AP-HP), Sorbonne Université, 75005 Paris, France; (P.D.); (P.G.)
- Institut de Cardiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47 Boulevard de l’Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
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Lee HJ, Lim DS, Lee J, Lee DG, Oh MY, Park J, Kim CH, Jung JH, Choi RK, Kang YC. Decompression Illness in Divers With or Without Patent Foramen Ovale : A Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med 2023. [PMID: 37429031 DOI: 10.7326/m23-0260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In previous studies, the prevalence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been reported to be higher in scuba divers who experienced decompression illness (DCI) than in those who did not. OBJECTIVE To assess the association between PFO and DCI in scuba divers. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Tertiary cardiac center in South Korea. PARTICIPANTS One hundred experienced divers from 13 diving organizations who did more than 50 dives per year. MEASUREMENTS Participants had transesophageal echocardiography with a saline bubble test to determine the presence of a PFO and were subsequently divided into high- and low-risk groups. They were followed using a self-reported questionnaire while blinded to their PFO status. All of the reported symptoms were adjudicated in a blinded manner. The primary end point of this study was PFO-related DCI. Logistic regression analysis was done to determine the odds ratio of PFO-related DCI. RESULTS Patent foramen ovale was seen in 68 divers (37 at high risk and 31 at low risk). Patent foramen ovale-related DCI occurred in 12 divers in the PFO group (non-PFO vs. high-risk PFO vs. low-risk PFO: 0 vs. 8.4 vs. 2.0 incidences per 10 000 person-dives; P = 0.001) during a mean follow-up of 28.7 months. Multivariable analysis showed that high-risk PFO was independently associated with an increased risk for PFO-related DCI (odds ratio, 9.34 [95% CI, 1.95 to 44.88]). LIMITATION The sample size was insufficient to assess the association between low-risk PFO and DCI. CONCLUSION High-risk PFO was associated with an increased risk for DCI in scuba divers. This finding indicates that divers with high-risk PFO are more susceptible to DCI than what has been previously reported and should consider either refraining from diving or adhering to a conservative diving protocol. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE Sejong Medical Research Institute.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Jong Lee
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Bucheon Sejong Hospital, Bucheon, South Korea (H.L., D.S.L., J.P., C.K., J.J.)
| | - Dal Soo Lim
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Bucheon Sejong Hospital, Bucheon, South Korea (H.L., D.S.L., J.P., C.K., J.J.)
| | - Juneyoung Lee
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea (J.L.)
| | - Dong-Geun Lee
- Department of Neurology, Pyeongtaek St. Mary's Hospital, Pyeongtaek, South Korea (D.L.)
| | - Mi-Young Oh
- Department of Neurology, Bucheon Sejong Hospital, Bucheon, South Korea (M.O.)
| | - Jinsik Park
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Bucheon Sejong Hospital, Bucheon, South Korea (H.L., D.S.L., J.P., C.K., J.J.)
| | - Chi-Hoon Kim
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Bucheon Sejong Hospital, Bucheon, South Korea (H.L., D.S.L., J.P., C.K., J.J.)
| | - Ji-Hyun Jung
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Bucheon Sejong Hospital, Bucheon, South Korea (H.L., D.S.L., J.P., C.K., J.J.)
| | - Rak Kyeong Choi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Incheon Sejong Hospital, Incheon, South Korea (R.K.C.)
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Peppas S, Palaiodimos L, Nagraj S, Kokkinidis DG, Tiwari N, Kharawala A, Mojadidi MK, Mojaddedi S, Ntaios G, Faillace RT, Tobis JM. Right-to-Left Shunt in Divers with Neurological Decompression Sickness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11101407. [PMID: 37239692 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11101407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the association between the presence of a right-to-left shunt (RLS) and neurological decompression sickness (NDCS) and asymptomatic brain lesions among otherwise healthy divers. BACKGROUND Next to drowning, NDCS is the most severe phenotype of diving-related disease and may cause permanent damage to the brain and spinal cord. Several observational reports have described the presence of an RLS as a significant risk factor for neurological complications in divers, ranging from asymptomatic brain lesions to NDCS. METHODS We systematically reviewed the MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL databases from inception until November 2021. A random-effects model was used to compute odds ratios. RESULTS Nine observational studies consisting of 1830 divers (neurological DCS: 954; healthy divers: 876) were included. RLS was significantly more prevalent in divers with NDCS compared to those without (62.6% vs. 27.3%; odds ratio (OR): 3.83; 95% CI: 2.79-5.27). Regarding RLS size, high-grade RLS was more prevalent in the NDCS group than the no NDCS group (57.8% versus 18.4%; OR: 4.98; 95% CI: 2.86-8.67). Further subgroup analysis revealed a stronger association with the inner ear (OR: 12.13; 95% CI: 8.10-18.17) compared to cerebral (OR: 4.96; 95% CI: 2.43-10.12) and spinal cord (OR: 2.47; 95% CI: 2.74-7.42) DCS. RLS was more prevalent in divers with asymptomatic ischemic brain lesions than those without any lesions (46.0% vs. 38.0%); however, this was not statistically significant (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 0.80-2.91). CONCLUSIONS RLS, particularly high-grade RLS, is associated with greater risk of NDCS. No statistically significant association between RLS and asymptomatic brain lesions was found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spyros Peppas
- Department of Internal Medicine, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Leonidas Palaiodimos
- Department of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Sanjana Nagraj
- Department of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Damianos G Kokkinidis
- Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale University/Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Nidhish Tiwari
- Department of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Amrin Kharawala
- Department of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Mohammad K Mojadidi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
| | - Sanauallah Mojaddedi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
| | - George Ntaios
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 382 21 Larissa, Greece
| | - Robert T Faillace
- Department of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Jonathan M Tobis
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Apostolos A, Drakopoulou M, Trantalis G, Synetos Α, Oikonomou G, Karapanayiotides T, Tsioufis C, Toutouzas K. The management of patent foramen ovale in divers: where do we stand? Ther Adv Neurol Disord 2022; 15:17562864221103459. [PMID: 35837370 PMCID: PMC9274415 DOI: 10.1177/17562864221103459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Diving is a fascinating activity, but it does not come without any cost; decompression illness (DCI) is one of the most frequent diseases occurring in divers. Rapid surfacing after diving causes alveolar rupture and bubbles release, which enter in the systemic circulation and could embolize numerous organs and tissues. The presence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) contributes to the passage of venous gas bubbles into the arterial circulation, increasing the risk of complications related to DCI. The diagnosis is established with a detailed medical history, a comprehensive clinical evaluation, and a multimodal imaging approach. Although the percutaneous closure of PFO is ambiguous for divers, as a primary prevention strategy, transcatheter management is considered as beneficial for DCI recurrence prevention. The aim of this study is to introduce the basic principles of DCI, to review the pathophysiological connection between DCI and PFO, to highlight the risk factors and the optimal treatment, and, last but not least, to shed light on the role of closure as primary and secondary prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Apostolos
- First Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippokration General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Drakopoulou
- First Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippokration General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - George Trantalis
- First Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippokration General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Αndreas Synetos
- First Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippokration General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - George Oikonomou
- First Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippokration General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Theodoros Karapanayiotides
- Second Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA University Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Costas Tsioufis
- First Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippokration General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Toutouzas
- Professor of Cardiology, First Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 114 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, Athens 115 27, Greece
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Breath-Hold Diving-Related Decompression Sickness with Brain Involvement: From Neuroimaging to Pathophysiology. Tomography 2022; 8:1172-1183. [PMID: 35645382 PMCID: PMC9149941 DOI: 10.3390/tomography8030096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Central nervous system involvement related to decompression sickness (DCS) is a very rare complication of breath-hold diving. So far, it has been postulated that repeated dives with short surface intervals represent a key factor in the development of breath-holding-related DCS. We report the case of a breath-hold diver who, after repeated immersion, developed DCS with brain involvement. After treatment in a hyperbaric chamber, there was a clinical improvement in the symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed hyperintense lesions in long-time repetition sequences (FLAIR, T2WI) in the left frontal and right temporal lobes. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map were characteristic of vasogenic edema, allowing us to exclude the ischemic nature of the process. These findings, together with the acute clinical presentation, the resolution of lesions in evolutionary radiological controls and the possible involvement of blood–brain barrier/endothelial dysfunction in DCS, could suggest a new form of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES)-like presentation of DCS. This would represent a novel mechanism to explain the pathophysiology of this entity. We conducted a literature review, analyzing the pathophysiological and neuroimaging characteristics of DCS in breath-hold diving based on a case of this rare disease.
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High prevalence of patent foramen ovale in recreational to elite breath hold divers. J Sci Med Sport 2022; 25:553-556. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2022.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Lovering AT, Kelly TS, DiMarco KG, Bradbury KE, Charkoudian N. Implications of a patent foramen ovale on environmental physiology and pathophysiology: Do we know the hole story? J Physiol 2022; 600:1541-1553. [PMID: 35043424 DOI: 10.1113/jp281108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The foramen ovale is an essential component of the foetal circulation contributing to oxygenation and carbon dioxide elimination that remains patent under certain circumstances, in ∼ 30% of the healthy adult population, without major negative sequelae in most. Adults with a patent foramen ovale (PFO) have a greater tendency to develop symptoms of acute mountain sickness and high-altitude pulmonary oedema upon ascent to high altitude, and PFO presence is associated with worse cardiopulmonary function in chronic mountain sickness. This increase in altitude illness prevalence may be related to dysregulated cerebral blood flow associated with altered respiratory chemoreflex sensitivity; however, the mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Interestingly, men with a PFO appear to have a shift in thermoregulatory control to higher internal temperatures, both at rest and during exercise, and they have blunted thermal tachypnea. The teleological "reason" for this thermoregulatory shift is unclear, but the shift of ∼0.5°C in core body temperature does not appear to be sufficient to have any significant negative consequences in terms of risk of heat illness. Further work in this area is needed, particularly in women, to evaluate mechanisms of heat storage and dissipation in these individuals as compared to people without a PFO. Consequences of a PFO in SCUBA divers include a greater incidence of unprovoked decompression sickness, but whether PFO is beneficial or detrimental to breath hold diving remains unexplored. Whether PFO presence will explain interindividual variability in responses to, and consequences from, other environmental stressors such as spaceflight remain entirely unknown. Abstract figure legend Associations between PFO and altitude illnesses, core body temperature and diving. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tyler S Kelly
- University of Oregon, Department of Human Physiology, Eugene, OR
| | | | - Karleigh E Bradbury
- University of Oregon, Department of Human Physiology, Eugene, OR.,United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Thermal & Mountain Medicine Division, Natick, MA
| | - Nisha Charkoudian
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Thermal & Mountain Medicine Division, Natick, MA
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9
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Pristipino C, Germonpré P, Toni D, Sievert H, Meier B, D'Ascenzo F, Berti S, Onorato E, Bedogni F, Mas JL, Scacciatella P, Hildick-Smith D, Gaita F, Kyrle P, Thomson J, Derumeaux G, Sibbing D, Chessa M, Hornung M, Zamorano J, Dudek D. European position paper on the management of patients with patent foramen ovale. Part II - Decompression sickness, migraine, arterial deoxygenation syndromes and select high-risk clinical conditions. EUROINTERVENTION 2021; 17:e367-e375. [PMID: 33506796 PMCID: PMC9724983 DOI: 10.4244/eij-d-20-00785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of medical conditions but to date only one official position paper related to left circulation thromboembolism has been published. This interdisciplinary paper, prepared with the involvement of eight European scientific societies, reviews the available evidence and proposes a rationale for decision making for other PFO-related clinical conditions. In order to guarantee a strict evidence-based process, we used a modified grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) methodology. A critical qualitative and quantitative evaluation of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures was performed, including assessment of the risk/benefit ratio. The level of evidence and the strength of the position statements were weighed and graded according to predefined scales. Despite being based on limited and observational or low-certainty randomised data, a number of position statements were made to frame PFO management in different clinical settings, along with suggestions for new research avenues. This interdisciplinary position paper, recognising the low or very low certainty of existing evidence, provides the first approach to several PFO-related clinical scenarios beyond left circulation thromboembolism and strongly stresses the need for fresh high-quality evidence on these topics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Pristipino
- San Filippo Neri - ASL Roma 1 Hospital, Via Alessandro Poerio 140, 00152 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Danilo Toni
- Hospital Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Horst Sievert
- CardioVascular Center Frankfurt (CVC Frankfurt), Frankfurt, Germany,Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, United Kingdom,University California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Fabrizio D'Ascenzo
- Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Jean-Louis Mas
- Hôpital Sainte-Anne, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | | | - David Hildick-Smith
- Sussex Cardiac Centre, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Fiorenzo Gaita
- Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Dirk Sibbing
- Privatklinik Lauterbacher Mühle am Ostersee, Iffeldorf and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) München, Munich, Germany
| | - Massimo Chessa
- IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy
| | - Marius Hornung
- CardioVascular Center Frankfurt (CVC Frankfurt), Frankfurt, Germany
| | | | - Dariusz Dudek
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland,Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, Cotignola (RA), Italy
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10
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Brampton W, Sayer MD. Decompression sickness after a highly conservative dive in a diver with known persistent foramen ovale: Case report. Diving Hyperb Med 2021; 51:111-115. [PMID: 33761552 DOI: 10.28920/dhm51.1.111-115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
A diver returned to diving, 15 months after an episode of neuro-spinal decompression sickness (DCS) with relapse, after which she had been found to have a moderate to large provoked shunt across a persistent (patent) foramen ovale (PFO), which was not closed. She performed a single highly conservative dive in line with the recommendations contained in the 2015 position statement on PFO and diving published jointly by the South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society and the United Kingdom Sports Diving Medical Committee. An accidental Valsalva manoeuvre shortly after surfacing may have provoked initial symptoms which later progressed to DCS. Her symptoms and signs were milder but closely mirrored her previous episode of DCS and she required multiple hyperbaric oxygen treatments over several days, with residua on discharge. Although guidance in the joint statement was mostly followed, the outcome from this case indicates that there may be a subgroup of divers with an unclosed PFO, who have had a previous episode of serious DCS, who may not be safe to dive, even within conservative limits.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Brampton
- Hyperbaric Medicine Unit. Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, Scotland.,Corresponding author: Dr William Brampton, Hyperbaric Medical Unit, Aberdeen Royal Infi rmary, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZN, Scotland, UK,
| | - Martin Dj Sayer
- Tritonia Scientific Ltd., Oban, Scotland.,West Scotland Centre for Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine, Oban, Scotland
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11
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Edvinsson B, Thilén U, Nielsen NE, Christersson C, Dellborg M, Eriksson P, Hlebowicz J. Does persistent (patent) foramen ovale closure reduce the risk of recurrent decompression sickness in scuba divers? Diving Hyperb Med 2021; 51:63-67. [PMID: 33761542 DOI: 10.28920/dhm51.1.63-67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Interatrial communication is associated with an increased risk of decompression sickness (DCS) in scuba diving. It has been proposed that there would be a decreased risk of DCS after closure of the interatrial communication, i.e., persistent (patent) foramen ovale (PFO). However, the clinical evidence supporting this is limited. METHODS Medical records were reviewed to identify Swedish scuba divers with a history of DCS and catheter closure of an interatrial communication. Thereafter, phone interviews were conducted with questions regarding diving and DCS. All Swedish divers who had had catheter-based PFO-closure because of DCS were followed up, assessing post-closure diving habits and recurrent DCS. RESULTS Nine divers, all with a PFO, were included. Eight were diving post-closure. These divers had performed 6,835 dives (median 410, range 140-2,200) before closure, and 4,708 dives (median 413, range 11-2,000) after closure. Seven cases with mild and 10 with serious DCS symptoms were reported before the PFO closure. One diver with a small residual shunt suffered serious DCS post-closure; however, that dive was performed with a provocative diving profile. CONCLUSION Divers with PFO and DCS continue to dive after PFO closure and this seems to be fairly safe. Our study suggests a conservative diving profile when there is a residual shunt after PFO closure, to prevent recurrent DCS events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Edvinsson
- Department of Cardiology, Department of Clinical Science, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ulf Thilén
- Department of Cardiology, Department of Clinical Science, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Niels Erik Nielsen
- Department of Cardiology, Department of Clinical Science, University Hospital Linköping, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | | | - Mikael Dellborg
- Department of Cardiology, Department of Clinical Science, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Peter Eriksson
- Department of Cardiology, Department of Clinical Science, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Joanna Hlebowicz
- Department of Cardiology, Department of Clinical Science, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Corresponding author: Dr Joanna Hlebowicz, Department of Cardiology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, SE-221, 85 Lund, Sweden,
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Karakus A, Okutucu S. High Eosinophil Rates in Patients With Right-to-Left Shunts: An Expected Role, or an Unexpected Risk? Cureus 2021; 13:e12849. [PMID: 33643730 PMCID: PMC7885739 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.12849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and objective Eosinophils are associated with thromboembolic events. Since eosinophils are eliminated in the pulmonary vasculature, right-to-left shunt (RLS) through patent foramen ovale may increase eosinophils in the peripheral blood. In this report, we evaluated the eosinophils of patients with regard to the presence of RLS and its quantity. Patients and methods In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed the complete blood cell count (CBC) of patients with RLS (n=47) and without RLS (n=31) diagnosed by contrast echocardiography (CE). RLS was identified as mild (5-10 bubbles) and moderate shunt (10-25 bubbles). Results Age and CBC were not significantly different between the groups, with the exception of eosinophils. Patients with RLS had higher eosinophils percentage compared to patients without RLS (3.1 ±1.5 vs. 1.7 ±0.7, p=0.001). Additionally, eosinophils percentage was significantly higher in the mild RLS group (2.4 ±0.9 vs. 1.7 ±0.7, p=0.016) and the moderate RLS group (4.3 ±1.6 vs. 1.7 ±0.7, p=0.001) compared to normal subjects. Also, it was significantly higher in the moderate RLS group compared to the mild group (4.3 ±1.6 vs. 2.4 ±0.9, p=0.001). Conclusions Eosinophils percentage was higher in patients with mild and moderate RLS compared to normal individuals. Moreover, the eosinophil rate was higher in patients with moderate RLS than in patients with mild RLS.
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Scarff CW, Lippmann J, Fock A. A review of diving practices and outcomes following the diagnosis of a persistent (patent) foramen ovale in compressed air divers with a documented episode of decompression sickness. Diving Hyperb Med 2020; 50:363-369. [PMID: 33325017 PMCID: PMC8026231 DOI: 10.28920/dhm50.4.363-369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The presence of a persistent (patent) foramen ovale (PFO) increases the risk of decompression sickness (DCS) whilst diving with pressurised air. After the diagnosis of a PFO, divers will be offered a number of options for risk mitigation. The aim of this study was to review the management choices and modifications to diving practices following PFO diagnosis in the era preceding the 2015 joint position statement (JPS) on PFO and diving. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted of divers sourced from both the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne and the Divers Alert Network Asia-Pacific during the period 2005-2015. Divers were contacted via a combination of phone, text, mail and email. Data collected included: diving habits (years, style and depths); DCS symptoms, signs and treatment; return to diving and modifications of dive practices; history of migraine and echocardiography (ECHO) pre- and post-intervention; ECHO technique(s) used, and success or failure of PFO closure (PFOC). Analyses were performed to compare the incidence of DCS pre- and post-PFO diagnosis. RESULTS Seventy-three divers were interviewed. Sixty-eight of these returned to diving following the diagnosis of PFO. Thirty-eight underwent PFOC and chose to adopt conservative diving practices (CDPs); 15 chose PFOC with no modification to practices; 15 adopted CDPs alone; and five have discontinued diving. The incidence of DCS decreased significantly following PFOC and/or adoption of conservative diving practices. Of interest, migraine with aura resolved in almost all those who underwent PFOC. CONCLUSIONS Many divers had already adopted practices consistent with the 2015 JPS permitting the resumption of scuba diving with a lowering of the incidence of DCS to that of the general diving population. These results support the recommendations of the JPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher W Scarff
- Department of Intensive Care and Hyperbaric Medicine, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Corresponding author: Dr Christopher W Scarff, The Alfred, PO Box 315, Prahran 3181, VIC, Australia,
| | - John Lippmann
- Australasian Diving Safety Foundation, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Andrew Fock
- Department of Intensive Care and Hyperbaric Medicine, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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Van der Giessen H, Wilson LC, Coffey S, Whalley GA. Review: Detection of patient foramen ovale using transcranial Doppler or standard echocardiography. Australas J Ultrasound Med 2020; 23:210-219. [PMID: 34765407 PMCID: PMC8411673 DOI: 10.1002/ajum.12232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a common remnant of fetal circulation present in up to 25% of the worldwide adult population. Paradoxical embolism occurs when venous blood crosses the PFO into the arterial system, bypassing the pulmonary circulation. This allows for the direct passage of microemboli into cerebral blood vessels, increasing the risk of cryptogenic stroke. This review investigates the current diagnostic procedures used to detect and grade a PFO, including transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) and transcranial Doppler (TCD). Only a few studies have directly compared the use of TTE with TCD for PFO detection but several have compared TTE and TCD independently against the clinical gold standard TOE. Known pitfalls of TTE and TCD are also discussed, including the difficulty of differentiating between intracardiac shunts and intrapulmonary shunts. This review also discusses methods to optimise imaging, such as performing an adequate Valsalva manoeuvre, the role of abdominal compression and the choice of the injection site for the contrast agent and how these may increase the diagnostic success of detecting a right-to-left shunt when prompted by a clinician.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Van der Giessen
- The Department of Medicine, Otago Medical SchoolThe University of OtagoDunedinNew Zealand
| | - Luke C Wilson
- The Department of Medicine, Otago Medical SchoolThe University of OtagoDunedinNew Zealand
| | - Sean Coffey
- The Department of Medicine, Otago Medical SchoolThe University of OtagoDunedinNew Zealand
| | - Gillian A Whalley
- The Department of Medicine, Otago Medical SchoolThe University of OtagoDunedinNew Zealand
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Alakbarzade V, Keteepe-Arachi T, Karsan N, Ray R, Pereira AC. Patent foramen ovale. Pract Neurol 2020; 20:225-233. [DOI: 10.1136/practneurol-2019-002450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is the most common anatomical cause of an interatrial shunt. It is usually asymptomatic but may cause paradoxical embolism, manifesting as stroke, myocardial infarction or visceral/peripheral ischaemia. PFO is a risk factor for stroke and may be associated with migraine with aura. New evidence suggests PFO closure reduces the risk of recurrent ischaemic stroke in a highly selected population of stroke survivors: those aged 60 years or younger with a cryptogenic stroke syndrome, a large right-to-left shunt, an atrial septal aneurysm and no evidence of atrial fibrillation. They benefit from percutaneous PFO closure in addition to antiplatelet therapy, rather than antiplatelet therapy alone. Current evidence does not support PFO closure in the treatment of migraine.
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Gempp E, Lyard M, Louge P. Reliability of right-to-left shunt screening in the prevention of scuba diving related-decompression sickness. Int J Cardiol 2017; 248:155-158. [PMID: 28864135 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2017.08.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Revised: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between right-to-left shunt (RLS) and the clinical features of decompression sickness (DCS) in scuba divers and to determine the potential benefit for screening this anatomical predisposition in primary prevention. METHODS 634 injured divers treated in a single referral hyperbaric facility for different types of DCS were retrospectively compared to 259 healthy divers. All subjects had a RLS screening by contrast Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound according to a standardized method. The number of bubbles detected defined the degree of RLS (small if 5-20 bubbles, large if >20 bubbles). RESULTS TCD detected 63% RLS in DCS group versus 32% in the control group (p<0.0001) The overall prevalence of RLS was higher in divers presenting a cerebral DCS (OR, 5.3 [95% CI, 3.2-8.9]; p<0.0001), a spinal cord DCS (OR, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.4-3.1]; p<0.0001), an inner ear DCS (OR, 11.8 [95% CI, 7.4-19]; p<0.0001) and a cutaneous DCS (OR, 17.3 [95% CI, 3.9-77]; p<0.0001) compared to the control group, but not in divers experiencing ambiguous symptoms or musculoskeletal DCS. There was in increased risk of DCS with the size of RLS. The determination of diagnostic accuracy of TCD testing through the estimation of likelihood ratios revealed that predetermination of RLS did not change significantly the prediction of developing or not a DCS event. CONCLUSION The assessment of RLS remains indicated after an initial episode of spinal cord, cerebral, inner ear and cutaneous form of DCS but this approach is definitely not recommended in routine practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Gempp
- French Navy Diving School, Toulon, France; Department of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine, Sainte Anne's Military Hospital, Toulon, France.
| | | | - Pierre Louge
- Department of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine, Sainte Anne's Military Hospital, Toulon, France
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