Persistence of the eustachian valve in secundum atrial septal defects: possible implications for cerebral embolism and transcatheter closure procedures.

Transcatheter closure of large secundum atrial septal defects is now accepted clinical practice. With the introduction of easily applicable closure devices the indications for this procedure have been expanded to include the closure of patent foramen ovale after cerebral stroke of unknown origin. In some of these patients a persistent eustachian valve is present.