Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) News and Research

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AAN publishes updated practice advisory on closure of common heart defect after stroke

New guidance from the American Academy of Neurology concludes that closure of a common heart defect called a patent foramen ovale may be recommended for some people who have had a stroke.

29 Apr 2020

New technology replaces the standard way to repair a hole in the heart

Rush University Medical Center is the first hospital in Chicago to use a new technology that enables specially trained physicians to use a single stitch to close an opening between the upper chambers of the heart -; a condition that is found in about one in four people, most of whom are unaware of it.

21 Jun 2019

RESPECT study: PFO closure more beneficial than medical management in reducing recurrent stroke

Final results from the RESPECT trial found that percutaneously closing a patent foramen ovale (PFO) using the Amplatzer PFO Occluder was superior to medical management in the prevention of recurrent ischemic stroke in patients who previously had a cryptogenic stroke.

2 Nov 2016

Updated AAN guidelines state closure not recommended for individuals with stroke and heart defect

An updated recommendation from the American Academy of Neurology states that catheter-based closure should not be routinely recommended for people who have had a stroke and also have a heart defect called a patent foramen ovale (PFO), a channel between the top two chambers in the heart.

28 Jul 2016

Survey: Only half of healthcare providers adequately equipped with information about cryptogenic stroke

Results from a new survey from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association found that only half of healthcare professionals consider themselves to be adequately equipped with information about cryptogenic stroke, a stroke in which the underlying cause is still unknown after extensive testing.

12 Oct 2015

CWRU, UH Neurological Institute to present 2013 Neurocritical Care & Stroke Conference

University Hospitals (UH) Neurological Institute, in partnership with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, will present the 10th Annual Cleveland Neurocritical Care & Stroke Conference: With a Little Help From My Friends on March 8, 2013 at Case Western Reserve University's Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Research Building.

18 Dec 2012

GORE Septal Occluder receives FDA approval for use in REDUCE clinical study

W. L. Gore & Associates today announced that the FDA has approved the use of the new GORE Septal Occluder for inclusion in the Gore REDUCE Clinical Study. Gore is introducing this latest technology in its Gore REDUCE Clinical Study for prevention of recurrent stroke in patent foramen ovale (PFO) patients.

22 Oct 2012

Closing large intracardiac shunts does not improve sleep apnea

Clinically significant shunting of blood through a patent foramen ovale is more common among patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea than in the general population, study findings indicate.

4 Sep 2012

Stroke survivors from King County to share their stories during EMS Week

Hours, or even minutes, can mean the difference between life and death when someone is having a stroke. As part of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week from May 20-26, stroke survivors from King County will share their stories about how quick recognition of stroke symptoms and timely response and treatment through King County EMS helps patients survive and return to full health.

17 May 2012

PFO closure device no better than drugs alone in preventing recurrent strokes or TIAs

Loyola University Medical Center is one of the major enrollers in a landmark clinical trial that found that plugging a hole in the heart works no better than drugs in preventing strokes.

17 Mar 2012

St. Jude Medical meets stopping rule in RESPECT clinical trial, closes patient enrollment

St. Jude Medical, Inc., a global medical device company, today announced that it has met a stopping rule in its RESPECT clinical trial - triggered by reaching the protocol-required number of primary events in the trial, defined as stroke and all-cause mortality - and is closing patient enrollment.

4 Jan 2012

New study suggests link between migraine headaches and PFO in children

Roughly 15% of children suffer from migraines, and approximately one-third of these affected children have migraines with aura, a collection of symptoms that can include weakness, blind spots, and even hallucinations.

31 Mar 2011

St. Jude Medical completes acquisition of AGA Medical

St. Jude Medical, Inc. today announced that it has successfully completed its acquisition of AGA Medical Holdings, Inc.

19 Nov 2010

St. Jude Medical and ZONARE enter partnership in ultrasound imaging

St. Jude Medical, Inc., a global medical device company and ZONARE Medical Systems, a leading provider of premium ultrasound systems, today announced they have entered into a development and marketing agreement. Under this agreement, the companies will combine the St. Jude Medical intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) catheter and the ZONARE z.one Convertible Ultrasound system technology, and co-market an ultrasound system for intracardiac (inside the heart) imaging.

17 Nov 2010

Gore REDUCE Clinical Study investigates PFO in stroke patients

W. L. Gore & Associates today joined the US principal investigators for the Gore REDUCE Clinical Study in reaffirming their commitment to the study of Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) in stroke patients using the GORE HELEX Septal Occluder.

16 Nov 2010

St. Jude Medical to acquire AGA Medical

St. Jude Medical, Inc., a global medical device company, and AGA Medical Holdings, Inc., today announced that the Boards of Directors of both companies have approved a definitive agreement under which St. Jude Medical will acquire all of the outstanding shares of AGA Medical for $20.80 per share in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $1.3 billion, including the assumption of approximately $225 million in outstanding debt.

18 Oct 2010

PFO repair may increase odds of postoperative stroke, shows no clear benefit: Study

Patients who have a heart defect known as patent foramen ovale incidentally discovered and repaired during surgery for a different condition may have an increased odds of postoperative stroke, along with no clear benefit on short-term outcomes or long-term survival, according to a study in the July 15 issue of JAMA.

27 Sep 2010

AGA Medical second-quarter 2010 net sales increase 7.6% to $53.8 million

AGA Medical Holdings, Inc., a leading developer of interventional medical devices for the minimally invasive treatment of structural heart defects and vascular abnormalities, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

3 Aug 2010

NMT Medical reports $2.6 million net income for second-quarter 2010

NMT Medical, Inc., an advanced medical technology company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets proprietary implant technologies that allow interventional cardiologists to treat structural heart disease through minimally invasive, catheter-based procedures, today announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.

30 Jul 2010

Gore provides update on REDUCE Clinical Study of HELEX Septal Occluder for PFO closure

W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore) today provided an update on the Gore REDUCE Clinical Study, a prospective, randomized, multi-center, multi-national trial designed to demonstrate safety and effectiveness of the GORE HELEX Septal Occluder for Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) closure in patients with history of cryptogenic stroke or imaging-confirmed Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). The unique study, which includes up to fifty investigational sites in the U.S., Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, is on track to meet its estimated completion in 2015.

9 Jul 2010