ABSTRACT NUMBER: ESOC2026A506 DELAYS IN TRANSCATHETER PATENT FORAMEN OVALE CLOSURE FOLLOWING A CEREBROVASCULAR EVENT: A SINGLE-CENTRE RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

Abstract Background and aims Patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure is recommended for select patients within 6 months after an ischaemic event. We aimed to evaluate diagnostic timelines and predictors of delay in PFO closure. Methods This single-centre retrospective study included patients aged 18–60 years with ischaemic stroke (IS) and/or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) who underwent PFO closure at a tertiary care centre between May 2011 and January 2025. Demographic, clinical, diagnostic data, and procedural timelines were analysed. The RoPE score and PASCAL classification were used to assess high-risk PFO. Results 86 patients (55.8% women; mean age 38.7±8.1 years) were included. IS occurred in 86.1%, TIA in 11.6%, and both in 2.3% of cases. A RoPE score ≥7 was calculated in 51.2% of cases. PASCAL classification showed 46.5% possible and 50.0% probable PFO-related IS/TIAs. Median time from IS/TIA to closure was 322 days (IQR 244-443). 44.2% of participants were initially treated at the tertiary care centre, and had shorter diagnostic waiting times, but the time to closure didn’t differ from that of referred patients (Table 1). A recurrent ischaemic event occurred in 5.8% participants before closure. Closure numbers increased over the years (rS = 0.734, p = 0.007)(Figure 1). Only the year of PFO closure predicted time to closure, with longer waiting times in later years (β = 0.4, p = 0.0004; model: F(5,80) = 3.40, R2 = 0.175, p = 0.008). Conclusions Time to PFO closure exceeded the 6-month recommendation. Increasing procedural demand may have prolonged waiting times. Conflict of interest Laima Skėrutė: nothing to disclose. Julija Valančienė: nothing to disclose. Eglė Žulpaitė: nothing to disclose. Lina Gumbienė: nothing to disclose. Lina Kaplerienė: nothing to disclose. Lina Kryžauskaitė: nothing to disclose. Aurelija Daškevičiūtė: nothing to disclose. Diana Zakarkaitė: nothing to disclose. Saulius Andruškevičius: nothing to disclose. Kristina Ryliškienė: nothing to disclose. Table 1 - belongs to Results Figure 1 - belongs to Conclusions