title: AMPLATZER versus Figulla occluder for transcatheter patent foramen ovale closure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this observational study was to compare acute and 12-month results of percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) with two occluder devices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between June 2007 and October 2014, 406 consecutive patients (48.1±13.3 years, 243 women) underwent percutaneous PFO closure with either the AMPLATZER (n=179) or the Figulla (n=227) device after a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack ascribed to the PFO. A right-to-left shunt grade >1 was previously detected in all patients and atrial septal aneurysm was present in 111 (27.5%) patients. Patients were followed up with a contrast transthoracic echocardiogram and clinically at 24 hours, six months, and 12 months after the procedure. A high procedural success was observed in both groups. Despite a trend towards a higher incidence of acute residual shunt immediately after device deployment among Figulla occluder patients, a residual grade ≥2 right-to-left shunt was observed in 4.5% of patients, independently of the device used for PFO closure. The only difference reported after Figulla device implantation was a lower rate of supraventricular arrhythmias (9% vs. 17%, p=0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to this two-centre study, PFO closure appears safe and effective with the Figulla occluder as well as with the AMPLATZER device.
authors.affiliation: Centro Cardiologico "Monzino" IRCCS and Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trabattoni
authors.forename: Achille
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaspardone
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Sgueglia
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fabbiocchi
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gioffrè
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montorsi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calligaris
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iamele
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Santis
authors.forename: Antonio L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bartorelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004452:Echocardiography; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D054092:Foramen Ovale, Patent / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055989:Septal Occluder Device