Cryptogenic Stroke with a Patent Foramen Ovale: Medical Therapy, Percutaneous Intervention, or Surgery.
Review
Overview
abstract
More than one third of ischemic strokes have an unidentifiable cause. Patent foramen ovale (PFO) plays a controversial role in this subset of patients. The evidence for and against the hypothesis of paradoxical embolism is reviewed and we discuss the optimal management of a PFO under different circumstances.