Among consecutive 47 cryptogenic stroke patients who underwent PFO closure, a serial follow-up bubble contrast TEE at 3 and 9 months after the index procedure was completed in 38 patients (81%, 46±10 years, 19 men). To evaluate the efficacy of PFO closure, the incidence of any- and significant residual shunt (≥moderate) was assessed.

The current investigation analyzed the date from the Gachon University Gil Medical Center PFO registry. Between March 2014 to February 2017, all consecutive 47 patients with ischemic stroke and PFO documented by bubble contrast with no other identifiable cause of the ischemic event, such as, carotid or intracranial artery stenosis, atrial fibrillation, and thrombus, or atheromatous plaque at the aortic arch (i.e. CS), were analyzed. PFO closure was determined according to the heart-brain team's discretion (the team consisted of an interventional cardiologist, an echocardiographer cardiologist, a neurologist, and a radiologist) based on clinical data, echocardiographic findings, and patients' preference. The Gore® Septal Occluder (WL Gore & Associates, Inc., Newark, DE, USA) (n=19) and the Amplatzer® PFO occluder (St. Jude Medical, Inc. St.Paul, MN, USA) (n=19) and were used. The Occlutec® PFO occluder was used in one patient who were excluded from the analysis. The Institutional Review Board of Gachon University Gil Medical Center approved this study and all patients provided written informed consent prior to enrollment.

Inclusion Criteria:

patients with cryptogenic stroke and PFO documented by bubble contrast TEE

Exclusion Criteria:

patients with other identifiable cause of the ischemic event such as, carotid or intracranial artery stenosis, atrial fibrillation, and thrombus, or atheromatous plaque at the aortic arch

all consecutive 47 patients with ischemic stroke and PFO documented by BCTEE with no other identifiable cause of the ischemic event, such as, carotid or intracranial artery stenosis, atrial fibrillation, and thrombus, or atheromatous plaque at the aortic arch (i.e. CS), were analyzed. PFO closure was determined according to the heart-brain team's discretion (the team consisted of an interventional cardiologist, an echocardiographer cardiologist, a neurologist, and a radiologist) based on clinical data, echocardiographic findings, and patients' preference.