Long-term follow-up after PFO device closure: Outcomes and Complications in a Single-center Experience.

Objective: To describe medium- to long-term follow-up of patients undergoing device closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) for stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Background: Transcatheter device closure of PFO continues to be used for secondary prevention of cryptogenic stroke or TIA, but data are lacking regarding long-term outcomes.

Methods: We reviewed the Mayo Clinic Rochester PFO database for patients who underwent device closure of PFO for secondary prevention of stroke/TIA from December 2001 to June 2012. Demographic, clinical, procedural, and follow-up data were reviewed. Recurrence rate of stroke/TIA were calculated. Data were analyzed to identify risk factors of recurrent neurologic events.

Results: Seven hundred and thirty patients (mean age 53 years; 40% female) were included in our study. Most patients (72%) had cryptogenic stroke as their qualifying event for PFO closure. There were no procedure-related deaths or strokes. The most commonly used device was the Amplatzer Septal Occluder (82%). Median follow-up was 6 years. A 3.9% of patients had documented residual right-to-left shunting at last echocardiogram. Recurrent stroke and/or TIA were reported in 45 patients, (6.3% of patients with follow-up data). Patients who experienced recurrent stroke/TIA were older and had a higher rate of diabetes and hypertension than those who did not. The presence of residual shunt did not correlate with risk of recurrent events.

Conclusions: Device closure of PFO can be performed safely with very good long-term resolution of atrial shunting. Recurrent neurologic events after PFO closure may reflect additional comorbid risk factors unrelated to the potential for paradoxical embolism. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.