Monitoring for atrial fibrillation prior to patent foramen ovale closure after cryptogenic stroke

A multicenter analysis of implantable monitoring device-based diagnosis of supraventricular arrhythmia post patent foramen ovale closure: the OCCL-ILR study

Background

Recent data suggest that the true incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure has probably been underestimated, and may differ according to the type of closing device used.

Objectives

On the basis of continuous rhythm monitoring with an implantable device, this study aims to assess the incidence of  supraventricular arrhythmia following PFO closure with the Occlutech PFO device.

Methods

This is a multicentric analysis of consecutive PFO closure patients treated with an Occlutech device between 01/01/2019 and 20/03/2024, with an implantable loop recorder (IRL) (or a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator) implanted for at least 3 months preceding the procedure, and with available follow-up for at least 1month post procedure. Primary endpoint was the incidence of patients with new onset supraventricular arrhythmia (AF, atrial flutter or any supraventricular tachycardia) lasting >30 s, post PFO closure.

Results

A total of 59 patients met the inclusion criteria. Patients were monitored (95% with ILR) during 284 days (IQR 241.5-374) before, and for 422 days (IQR 237-776) post PFO closure. Supraventricular arrhythmia post PFO closure was reported in 18 patients (31%), with median time-interval until arrhythmia occurrence of 16.5 days (IQR 13-21). A total of 88 supraventricular arrhythmia events (96.6% AF) were documented during follow-up. In 94.4% of patients with supraventricular arrhythmia, new-onset arrhythmia occurred in the first 45 days after PFO closure. Six patients (33.3%) with supraventricular arrhythmia post PFO closure, presented AF episodes beyond 60 days after PFO closure.

Conclusions

In this multicenter retrospective analysis of patients undergoing percutaneous PFO closure with the Occlutech PFO device, implantable continuous rhythm monitoring devices were able to diagnose new-onset supraventricular arrhythmia (97% AF) after PFO closure in 31% of patients. While 94% of new-onset supraventricular arrhythmia events occurred in the first 45 days post-procedure, one-third of patients with arrhythmia post PFO closure presented AF episodes beyond 60 days post procedure.

The clinical diagnostic value of right-to-left shunt in cryptogenic stroke under right heart contrast echocardiography: a retrospective case-control study

Background

About 30% of ischemic strokes do not have a clear cause, which is called cryptogenic stroke (CS). Increasing evidence suggests a potential link between CS and right-to-left shunt (RLS). RLS may lead to CS via paradoxical embolic mechanism. Hence, current study aims to explore the correlation between different RLS indexes and the occurrence of CS and its clinical diagnostic value in CS.

Methods

A total of 117 patients diagnosed with CS from October 2020 to June 2024 were randomly collected, and 93 patients with only headache and dizziness were randomly collected as the control group. All patients underwent agitated saline contrast echocardiography (ASCE) and the semi-quantitative classification, type and duration of RLS were analyzed. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between RLS grade and type and the occurrence of CS, and the correlation between RLS duration and RLS grade and type. The efficacy of different RLS grades, types and durations in the diagnosis of CS were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

Results

The included population ranged in age from 20-73 years, with 90 males and 120 females. There was no significant difference in basic data (e.g., gender, smoking history, drinking history, and the number of people with hypertension and diabetes) and serum biological indicators [triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)] between the CS group and the control group (all P>0.05). The proportion of RLS (77.78%) in the CS group was significantly higher than that in the control group (35.48%) (P<0.001). Spearman correlation analysis showed that RLS grade (r=0.569) and type (r=0.346) were significantly correlated with the occurrence of CS (both P<0.001). In addition, RLS duration was significantly correlated with RLS type (r=0.902, P<0.001), but not with RLS size (P>0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that RLS grade had the highest area under the curve (AUC) in CS diagnosis, which was 0.807 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.748-0.866], the diagnostic sensitivity was 68.4%, and the specificity was 87.1%. In addition, the diagnostic AUC of RLS type and RLS duration in CS were similar, at 0.700 (95% CI: 0.626-0.773) and 0.707 (95% CI: 0.634-0.780), respectively.

Conclusions

RLS grade and RLS type are significantly correlated with the occurrence of CS. As an auxiliary means of CS diagnosis, RLS grade can effectively reduce the misdiagnosis rate of CS, which is of great clinical significance for early detection of CS risk.

European Stroke Organisation (ESO) Guidelines on the diagnosis and management of patent foramen ovale (PFO) after stroke

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is frequently identified in young patients with cryptogenic ischaemic stroke. Potential stroke mechanisms include paradoxical embolism from a venous clot which traverses the PFO, in situ clot formation within the PFO, and atrial arrhythmias due to electrical signalling disruption. The purpose of this guideline is to provide recommendations for diagnosing, treating, and long-term managing patients with ischaemic stroke and PFO. Conversely, Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) was not considered an index event in this context because only one RCT involved TIA patients. However, this subgroup analysis showed no significant differences between TIA and stroke outcomes. The working group identified questions and outcomes, graded evidence, and developed recommendations following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach and the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) standard operating procedure for guideline development. This document underwent peer-review by independent experts and members of the ESO Guideline Board and Executive Committee. The working group acknowledges the current evidentiary gap in delineating an unequivocal diagnostic algorithm for the detection of PFO. Although transoesophageal echocardiography is conventionally held as the most accurate diagnostic tool for PFO identification, its status as the 'gold standard' remains unsubstantiated by rigorously validated evidence. We found high-quality evidence to recommend PFO closure plus antiplatelet therapy in selected patients aged 18-60 years in whom no other evident cause of stroke is found but a PFO (i.e. PFO-associated stroke). The PASCAL classification system can be used to select such candidates for PFO closure. Patients with both a large right-to-left shunt and an atrial septal aneurysm benefit most from PFO closure. There is insufficient evidence to make an evidence-based recommendation on PFO closure in patients older than 60 and younger than 18 years. We found low quality evidence to suggest against PFO closure in patients with unlikely PFO-related stroke according to the PASCAL classification, except in specific scenarios (Expert Consensus). We suggest against long-term anticoagulation in patients with PFO-associated stroke unless anticoagulation is indicated for other medical reasons. Regarding the long-term AF monitoring after PFO closure, the working group concluded that there remains significant uncertainty regarding the risks and benefits associated with the use of long-term cardiac monitoring, such as implantable loop recorders. This document provides additional guidance, in the form of evidence-based recommendations or expert consensus statements, on diagnostic methods for PFO detection, and medical management after PFO closure.

The pathophysiology of patent foramen ovale and its related complications

The foramen ovale plays a vital role in sustaining life in-utero; however, a patent foramen ovale (PFO) after birth has been associated with pathologic sequelae in the systemic circulation including stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), migraine, high altitude pulmonary edema, decompression illness, platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS) and worsened severity of obstructive sleep apnea. Importantly, each of these conditions is most commonly observed among specific age groups: migraine in the 20 to 40s, stroke/TIA in the 30-50s and POS in patients >50 years of age. The common and central pathophysiologic mechanism in each of these conditions is PFO-mediated shunting of blood and its contents from the right to the left atrium. PFO-associated pathologies can therefore be divided into (1) paradoxical systemic embolization and (2) right to left shunting (RLS) of blood through the PFO. Missing in the extensive literature on these clinical syndromes are mechanistic explanations for the occurrence of RLS, including timing and the volume of blood shunted, the impact of age on RLS, and the specific anatomical pathway that blood takes from the venous system to the left atrium. Visualization of the flow pattern graphically illustrates the underlying RLS and provides a greater understanding of the critical flow dynamics that determine the frequency, volume, and pathway of flow. In the present review, we describe the important role of foramen ovale in in-utero physiology, flow visualization in patients with PFO, as well as contributing factors that work in concert with PFO to result in the diverse pathophysiological sequelae.

Multidisciplinary Approach to Patent Foramen Ovale Closure for Cryptogenic Stroke: Brain-Heart Board Experience

Background and Objectives

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is present in approximately 25% of adult population. The prevalence of PFO is high in patients with cryptogenic stroke suggesting paradoxical embolism. PFO closure in carefully selected patients is an effective secondary preventive strategy in these patients. We report predictors of management recommendations by the multidisciplinary Board and their impact on outcomes.

Methods

Brain-Heart Board comprises vascular and interventional neurology and cardiology subspecialties (structural, electrophysiology, and cardiac imaging). Adult patients referred to the Board for consideration of PFO closure between October 2017 to March 2021 were included in this retrospective cohort analysis. Demographics, comorbid conditions, risk of paradoxical embolism (RoPE) score, event frequencies (transient ischemic attack [TIA] or stroke, intracranial hemorrhage [ICH], post-PFO closure cardiac arrhythmias), and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 1 year were compared between the groups (PFO closure vs medical management). Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with management recommendation and chi-square tests to test differences in outcomes for patients according to management.

Results

Two hundred seventy patients (229 stroke; 41 TIA) were discussed by the Board for PFO closure. 119 (44.0%) patients were recommended for PFO closure of which 117 (98.3%) had evidence of ischemic infarct on imaging. In univariate analysis, age was similar (50 ± 11.9 vs 52 ± 12.8, p = 0.17), but RoPE score was higher in closure as compared with the medical management group (6 [IQR 5-7] vs 5 [IQR 4-7], p < 0.05). In multivariable analysis, TIA as the index event was an independent predictor of Board recommendation against PFO closure (OR 0.05, 95% CI 0.01-0.19, p < 0.05). Event frequency was low in both cohorts (5.9% vs 4.8%, p > 0.05) and comprised cardiac arrhythmias (6 cases of atrial fibrillation and 1 ICH in closure group; 1 TIA and 1 recurrent stroke in medical management group). Excellent functional outcome (mRS 0-1) was similar in both cohorts (66.3% vs 70.7%, p > 0.05) at 1 year.

Discussion

Multidisciplinary Brain-Heart Board provides a clinical practice model of collaborative care to ensure proper patient selection for PFO closure. TIA as the index event is associated with recommendation of medical management by the multidisciplinary Brain-Heart Board.

Atrial Fibrillation After Patent Foramen Ovale Closure: Incidence, Pathophysiology, and Management

This comprehensive review explores the incidence, pathophysiology, and management of atrial fibrillation (AF) following percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO). Although AF is considered a common adverse event post PFO closure, its incidence, estimated at <5%, varies based on monitoring methods. The review delves into the challenging task of precisely estimating AF incidence, given subclinical AF and diverse diagnostic approaches. Notably, a temporal pattern emerges, with peak incidence around the 14th day after closure and a subsequent decline after the 45th day, mimicking general population AF trends. The pathophysiological mechanisms behind post PFO closure AF remain elusive, with proposed factors including local irritation, device-related interference, tissue stretch, and nickel hypersensitivity. Management considerations encompass rhythm control, with flecainide showing promise, and anticoagulation tailored to individual risk profiles. The authors advocate for a personalized approach, weighing factors like age, comorbidities, and device characteristics. Notably, postclosure AF is generally considered benign, often resolving spontaneously within 45 days, minimizing thromboembolic risks. Further studies are required to refine understanding and provide evidence-based guidelines.

Management of patent foramen ovale; findings from a nationwide survey

OBJECTIVES

Several clinical trials have provided evidence supporting the transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in selected patients following a cryptogenic stroke. However, it remains unknown to what extent these guidelines have been implemented in everyday clinical practice and the familiarity of physicians from different specialties with PFO closure. The aim of our nationwide survey is to explore the implementation of transcatheter PFO occlusion in Greek clinical practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Attending level cardiologists, internal medicine physicians and neurologists involved in the management of PFO-related strokes working in Greece were invited to complete an online questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 19 questions and was designed to obtain comprehensive data on provider demographics, PFO characteristics, and specific clinical scenarios.

RESULTS

A total of 51 physicians (56.9 % cardiologists, 25.5 % neurologists and 17.6 % internal medicine physicians) completed the survey, resulting in a response rate of 53 %. Cardiologists, internal medicine physicians and neurologists agree on several issues regarding PFO closure, such as PFO closure as first line treatment, management of patients with DVT or prior decompression sickness, and post-closure antithrombotic treatment, but different approaches were reported regarding closure in patients with thrombophilia treated with oral anticoagulation (p=0.012) and implantable loop recorder placement for atrial fibrillation exclusion (p=0.029 and p=0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings show that cardiologists, internal medicine physicians and neurologists agree in numerous issues, but share different views in the management of patients with thrombophilia and rhythm monitoring duration. These results highlight the significance of collaboration among physicians from different medical specialties for achieving optimal results.