The Continued Need of Pediatric Management Guidelines for Pediatric Stroke with Associated Patent Foramen Ovale: A Case Series (P5-6.007)

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a congenital cardiac anomaly resulting from the incomplete closure of the atrial septum, allowing blood to shunt from the right to the left atrium and bypass pulmonary filtration. This shunting can lead to paradoxical embolism, where emboli enter systemic circulation and potentially cause brain ischemia. Due to this possibility, PFO’s have been increasingly recognized as potential contributors to cryptogenic stroke. This paper examines four pediatric cases of cryptogenic strokes associated with PFOs and highlights the current lack of specific guidelines for PFO closure in the pediatric population.