Patent Foramen Ovale Closure Indications: A Clinical Update.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a commonly identified congenital cardiac defect, present in 25-30 percent of adults. Though usually clinically silent, PFOs can result in paradoxical embolization, resulting in platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS), migraines, myocardial infarctions, or cerebrovascular accidents. Patients with incidentally noted PFOs should be managed conservatively, but in patients with cryptogenic stroke and amenable anatomy, closure with a percutaneous closure device is recommended.