title: Patent foramen ovale: a new disease?
abstract: Patent foramen ovale is a frequent remnant of the fetal circulation. Affecting approximately 25% of the adult population. Its recognition, evaluation and treatment has attracted increasing interest as the importance and frequency of its implication in several pathologic processes, including ischemic stroke secondary to paradoxic embolism, the platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome, decompression sickness (DCS) (an occupational hazard for underwater divers and high altitude aviators and astronauts) and migraine headache, has become better understood. Echocardiographic techniques have emerged as the principle means for diagnosis and assessment of PFO, in particular contrast echocardiography and transcranial Doppler. Its treatment remains controversial with a general tendency to propose a percutaneous closure among the symptomatic patients.
authors: Ibn Rochd Hospital, Division of Cardiology, Quartier des Hopitaux 20200, Casablanca, Morocco. sdrighil@gmail.com
authors: Abdenasser
authors: A
authors: Drighil
authors: Hanane
authors: H
authors: El Mosalami
authors: Nadia
authors: N
authors: Elbadaoui
authors: Said
authors: S
authors: Chraibi
authors: Ahmed
authors: A
authors: Bennis
mesh_terms: D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000209:etiology; D054092:Foramen Ovale, Patent / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology