PATENT FORAMEN OVALE AND ISCHEMIC STROKE II

The treatment of patients with cerebrovascular events due to patent foramen ovale is either medical or invasive including surgery and percutaneous closure. Among these, medical therapy and percutaneous closure are most commonly selected for the treatment of PFO. Currently we do not have convincing evidence regarding the management of PFO . However randomized trials that compares the medical treatment versus percutaneous closure currently ongoing. Therefore we do need to initiate individual based therapy. Patient’s age, occupation, morphology and the diameter of patent foramen ovale, underlying venous thrombosis, the presence of paradoxical embolism and the experience of medical centers in percutaneous closure may influence our treatment strategy. Exclusion of other causes of cerebrovascular diseases rather than PFO is crucial in the management of stroke or TIA due to presumed paradoxical embolism.