title: Diving and percutaneous closure of persistent (patent) foramen ovale.
abstract: Paradoxical arterial gas embolism after diving, in patients with a persistent foramen ovale (PFO) is a potentially catastrophic complication that occurs when gas bubbles occlude blood ﬂow at cardiac or cerebral level. Because the relationship between PFO and decompression illness is currently not clear, we should ensure that patients understand the uncertainties about the efﬁcacy of transcatheter closure of a PFO and the possibility of complications if closure is decided upon. We report a female diver who developed temporary bradycardia, hypotension and evidence of myocardial ischaemia during a closure procedure.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Service, Insular-Maternao Infantil University Hospital, Servicio de Cardiologia, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular-Materno Infantil Avda, Maritima del Sur s/n 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain , E-mail: efrencardio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Efrén
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martinez-Quintana
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Service, Insular-Maternao Infantil University Hospital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gopar-Gopar
authors.affiliation: Dr Negrin University Hospital of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Fayna
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-González
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000209:etiology; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D004242:Diving; D005260:Female; D054092:Foramen Ovale, Patent / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D055989:Septal Occluder Device
keywords: Scuba diving; case reports; persistent foramen ovale; side effects; transcatheter closure