HELEX Septal Occluder for transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale: multicentre experience.

Aims: Patients with cryptogenic embolic events and a patent foramen ovale (PFO) are at risk of paradoxical embolism causing recurrent cerebral events; however, transcatheter PFO closure remains controversial. The aim of this multicentre trial was to demonstrate the feasibility and safety of transcatheter closure of PFO with the HELEX Septal Occluder.

Methods And Results: The study enrolled 128 patients (66 female; mean age, 50 years).

Percutaneous left atrial appendage transcatheter occlusion (PLAATO system) to prevent stroke in high-risk patients with non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation: results from the international multi-center feasibility trials.

Objectives: These studies were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion using the PLAATO system (ev3 Inc., Plymouth, Minnesota).

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have a five-fold increased risk for stroke.

Transcatheter treatment of atrial septal aneurysm associated with patent foramen ovale for prevention of recurrent paradoxical embolism in high-risk patients.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the safety and efficacy of transcatheter treatment of atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) associated with patent foramen ovale (PFO).

Background: Patients with both ASA and PFO are at high risk for recurrent paradoxical embolism.

Methods: The procedural, echocardiographic, and clinical outcomes of 141 patients with ASA + PFO and > or =1 paradoxical embolic event undergoing transcatheter treatment were compared with 220 patients with PFO alone.

Incidence and clinical course of thrombus formation on atrial septal defect and patient foramen ovale closure devices in 1,000 consecutive patients.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence, morphology, and clinical course of thrombus formation after catheter closure of intra-atrial shunts.

Background: Post-procedure detailed information about thrombotic material on different devices for transcatheter closure is missing.

Method: A total of 1,000 consecutive patients were investigated after patent foramen ovale (PFO) (n = 593) or atrial septal defect (ASD) (n = 407) closure.

Percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage.

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are at high risk of stroke. More than 15% of all strokes are due to atrial fibrillation. So far anticoagulation is the treatment of choice with a risk reduction of almost 70%.

An endovascular approach to cardioembolic stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation patients.

This report is of a 62-year-old woman presenting with a 3-year history of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) and unable to tolerate chronic warfarin therapy due to bleeding episodes and unstable INR values. Additional high risk factors for stroke are a history of congestive heart failure and previous embolic stroke. Percutaneous left atrial appendage transcatheter occlusion (PLAATO ) was performed to seal the LAA.

Cardiac perforation following transcatheter PFO closure.

From December 1998 to August 2001, transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) with an Amplatzer PFO occluder has been successfully performed in our center in 102 patients without severe complications. We are reporting the first known case of cardiac perforation by an Amplatzer PFO occluder.