Objective To improve the knowledge of paradoxical embolism originated from pulmonary embolism. Methods The medical literature about pulmonary embolism complicated with paradoxical embolism from 1998 to 2011 was searched from “Wanfang medical literature database”. Meanwhile 1 case diagnosed in Central Hospital of Dazhou City was reported. Then the clinical characteristics were summarized. Results 51 cases of pulmonary embolism complicated with paradoxical embolism were diagnosed, aged from23 to 76 years old. There were 27 males and 23 females, and sex was unknown in 1 case. In all cases, the cerebral embolism occurred in 30 cases( 58. 8% ) , lower limb artery embolism in 14 cases( 27. 4% ) , kidney artery embolism in 6 cases( 11. 8% ) , patent foramen ovale with straddling thrombus in 4 cases( 8% ) ,multiple embolismin 8 cases( 15. 7% ) , heart ventricle with straddling thrombus in 1 case ( 1. 96% ) , coronary artery embolism in 1 case( 1. 96% ) , aorta embolism in 1 case( 1. 96% ) , and spleen embolism in 1 case ( 1. 96% ) . There were 35 patients ( 68. 8% ) with patent foramen ovale and 7 cases ( 13. 7% ) died. Conclusions Paradoxical embolism waranted more awareness in the cases of pulmonary embolismand/ or venous thromboembolism and aggressive screening might avoid misdiagnosis.
In general, surgical closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients without inter atrial shunt is unnecessary. There is a b association of PFO with paradoxical embolism (PDE) and ischemic cerebral infarction, and reports on patients with PFO related cryptogenic stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting and various surgical cases of heart or lung are being increasingly published in recent years. These findings powered the interest of anesthesiologists, and cardiothoracic surgeons, in spite of the fact that numerous neurologist and cardiologist have greatly payed attention to these events already. This article surveys the current advance of knowledge to delineate the principal mechanism, clinical presentation, diagnostic strategies and treatment options in patients with PFO, atrial septal aneurysm and PDE, and focuses on careful consideration and effective management of patient who was suddenly presented with a cryptogenic stroke or transient ischemic attack followed by cardiothoracic operations.
ObjectiveTo study the relation between daily activity that can make right atrium pressure rise (such as abdominal belt, sighs, weight lifting) and patent foramen ovale (PFO). MethodsA total of 122 cases of positive patients by the routine transcranial Doppler (TCD) foaming test between 2014 and 2015 were collected. Forty-one patients underwent TCD foaming test in the case of abdominal belt, 41 in the case of sighs, and 40 in the case of weight lifting. We recorded the right to left shunting of the above three cases, and compared them with the normal TCD foam test. ResultsThere was a significant difference in the positive rate between the sigh group and abdominal belt group, and between the sigh group and weight lifting group (χ2=10.5, 7.40; P<0.01). The positive rate in the abdominal belt group was not significantly different from that of the weight lifting group (χ2=0.314, P>0.05). In the sigh group, the sigh shunting volume was significantly higher than that when the patients were at rest. The shunting volume was the biggest when the patients had Valsalva movement, followed by sighing and resting. ConclusionThe daily activity that can make right atrium pressure rise (such as abdominal belt, sighs, weight lifting) can increase the shunting flow from the right to the left. The highest positive rate occurs when patients sigh. This study can provide a certain theoretical basis for the pathogenesis of patent foramen ovale and cryptogenic stroke.
Objective To know more about the correlation between patent foramen ovale (PFO) and ischemic stroke among young and middle-aged people through analysis on various risk factors of ischemic stroke. Methods Eighty-three patients with cerebral infarction from 15 to 55 years old diagnosed for the first time in the Department of Neurology of Xianyang Hospital between January 2016 and January 2017 were selected as the study subjects. They were divided into two groups, PFO group (n=42) and non-PFO group (n=41). Seventy-eight heathy people from the Physical Examination Department of the same hospital were selected as controls. All patients and heathy subjects underwent transcranial Doppler (TCD) foaming experiments, and the occurrence and shunt volume of PFO were observed. General information and cerebrovascular disease risk factors of the patients were investigated. Results The age of subjects in PFO and non-PFO groups was not significantly different (P>0.05). Among the risk factors, there was no significant difference between the PFO and non-PFO groups in drinking history (P>0.05). The incidences of other ischemic stroke risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, smoking, hyperlipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, and carotid arteriosclerosis) in the PFO group were significantly lower than those in the non-PFO group (P<0.05). The rank sum test results showed that large and medium shunt rates of the cerebral infarction group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions PFO may be one of the cause of ischemic stroke in young and middle-aged people. Pathogenesis of ischemic stroke is likely to have a relationship with the severity of the shunt from right to left.
ObjectiveTo analyze the cases of cryptogenic cerebral infarction complicated with patent foramen ovale (PFO) treated by interventional occlusion, and evaluate the efficacy and safety of occlusion of PFO on preventing the recurrence of cerebral infarction.MethodsA total of 24 patients with cerebral infarction complicated with PFO who underwent interventional occlusion from January 2015 to August 2018 in Mianyang Central Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The data of these patients was collected, including relevant medical history, clinical examinations, and treatment processes. Detailed examinations (electrocardiogram, right heart contrast echocardiography, transcranial Doppler ultrasound foaming test, cranial imaging, etc.) were performed and the clinical manifestations were evaluated when patients returned to the outpatient department. Combining with regular telephone calls and outpatient follow-up, the recurrence of cerebral infarction and postoperative complications were evaluated.ResultsAmong the 24 patients, there were 11 males and 13 females, who were aged from 16 to 72 (with an average age of 49); the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Score was ≤5 in 19 patients, and was >5 in 5. The preoperative MRI and other examinations of the 24 patients showed that there were 21 cases of unilateral cerebral infarctions and 3 cases of bilateral cerebral infarctions; 10 cases of single lesions and 14 cases of multiple lesions; 9 cases of cortical infarctions and 15 cases of subcortical infarctions; 11 cases of lacunar infarctions and 13 cases of non-lacunar infarctions. Anterior circulation was involved in 14 cases, posterior circulation was involved in 8 cases, and both anterior and posterior circulations were involved in 2 cases. All the 24 patients underwent interventional occlusion successfully. No complications occurred during hospitalization or 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up visits. No cerebral infarctions reoccurred.ConclusionsInterventional occlusion of PFO is effective on preventing the recurrence of cerebral infarction. And the operation is safe with rare complications.
Objective To analyze the efficacy and safety of closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) guided by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), and summarize the experience of some difficult cases. MethodsThe patients who underwent the percutaneous PFO occlusion in our hospital from January 2020 to May 2023 were retrospectively enrolled. Dynamic monitoring data of TEE before, during, and after the operation were recorded. Results A total of 68 patients including 30 males and 38 females at an average age of 45.6±16.3 years were included. There were 7 patients with complex PFO. Under TEE guidance, 65 patients successfully completed the occlusion treatment, and 3 patients failed to close. During the operation, the two-dimensional TEE images of the patients were clear, which fully and clearly showed the process of the sheath canal passing through the ovale foramen and the continuous observation of the occlusive umbrella after releasing the occlusive umbrella. The position of the umbrella was secure and the shape of the umbrella was satisfactory. No blood shunt or pericardial effusion was found at 6-month and 1-year follow-up. The heart structure and heart rhythm were improved, the atrioventricular valve function was normal, the blocking umbrella was firm and stable, and there was no shedding or displacement. ConclusionThe percutaneous PFO occlusion guided by TEE is safe and effective, and has fewer side effects on patients compared with traditional interventional methods, but the complex PFO occlusion surgery is still challenging.