Sometimes they come back: recurrent noncardiac right-to-left shunt after percutaneous patent foramen ovale closure

J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2017 Jun;18(6):443-446. doi: 10.2459/JCM.0b013e328351dac0.

Abstract

: An increasing number of patients are being evaluated for percutaneous patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure to prevent recurrent cerebrovascular events, but debate still exists on therapeutic indications and off-label closure device implantation. Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas (PAVFs) are a rare and heterogeneous malformation prevalently associated with Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome, and may mimic PFO right-to-left shunt (RLS), leading to unnecessary interventions and in some cases to relapses. Residual shunt is increasingly being observed both after PFO closure and PAVF embolization, even at long-term follow-up, with unclear clinical relevance. This instrumental and possibly therapeutic failure could lie in the presence of pulmonary microfistulas, either pre-existing or following the intervention. Hence, if RLS persists after optimal device placement and reasonable endothelialization time, the presence of a PAVF should be assumed and investigated; if RLS recurs after previous, negative echocontrast studies, presence of device-related complications or pulmonary microfistulas should be taken into consideration.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arteriovenous Fistula / diagnostic imaging*
  • Arteriovenous Fistula / etiology
  • Embolism, Paradoxical / surgery*
  • Female
  • Fluoroscopy
  • Foramen Ovale, Patent / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pulmonary Artery / abnormalities*
  • Pulmonary Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Veins / abnormalities*
  • Pulmonary Veins / diagnostic imaging
  • Recurrence
  • Septal Occluder Device / adverse effects*
  • Stroke / prevention & control
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial

Supplementary concepts

  • Pulmonary Arteriovenous Fistulas