Newly diagnosed patent foramen ovale in an elderly patient: a case report

Penitent foramen ovale (PFO) is a structural heart abnormality with a frequency in the general population of ~27;3%; which consists of interatrial communication and related syndromes. It is often clinically asymptomatic and can be a diagnostic finding or characterized by thromboembolic events at the onset; most often ischemic stroke; transient ischemic attack; as a result of paradoxical embolism. Today; there is no doubt about the importance of shunting through the PFO in the pathogenesis of paradoxical embolism. However; there is still no unified approach to risk stratification of thromboembolic events in PFO. In addition; there are still discrepancies in determining the optimal treatment strategy for PFO in adults. A personalized approach to each patient with PFO depends on age; hemodynamic significance; shunting direction; clinical performance; and risk of cardioembolic events.