Risk and fate of residual interatrial shunting after transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale: a long term follow up study

Abstract

Background

Percutaneous transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in cryptogenic stroke is an alternative to medical therapy. There is still debate on different outcome for each currently available device. The impact of residual shunting after PFO-clo- sure on recurrent arterial embolism is unknown.

Aims

(i) To evaluate the prevalence of residual interatrial shunting after device- closure of PFO, (ii) to identify risk factors predicting residual interatrial shunting after device implantation, and (iii) to investigate the outcome of patients after PFO-closure during long- term follow- up (FU).

Methods and results

Between 2000- 2005 PFO-closure was performed in 124 patients using four different devices: Amplatzer PFO-(n = 52), CardioSeal (n = 33), Helex (n = 23) and Premere (n = 16) occluder. All patients underwent serial contrast-enhanced transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for 24 months after PFO- closure; clinical FU was at minimum 5 years up to 9.75 years (mean 6.67 ± 1.31 years). Overall-closure rate was 87% at 2 years, device-specific closure time curves differed significantly (p-logrank = 0.003). Independent risk factors for residual-shunting were implantation of a Helex occluder (hazard ratio [HR] 12.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.6- 57.4, p = 0.002), PFO- canal- lengths (HR 1.2, 95%CI 1.1- 1.3, p = 0.004) and extend of atrial-septal-aneurysm (HR 1.1, 95%CI 0.9- 1.3; p = 0.05). 4 (3.2%) arterial embolic events occurred during a FU-period of 817.2 patient-years, actuarial annual thromboembolic-risk was 0.49%. All ischemic events were not related to residual PFO-shunting or device-related thrombus- formation.

Conclusion

Success rates of PFO- closure are mainly dependent on occluder-type, extend of concomitant atrial-septum-aneurysm and PFO-canal- length. Importantly, residual shunting after PFO-closure was not associated with recurrence of arterial embolism during long-term follow-up.

Objective

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is an important cause of paradoxical embolism. PFO presence alone increases the risk of recurrent events 5-fold, with an even higher risk in case of concomitant atrial septal aneurysm [1-3]. Transcatheter PFO closure to prevent recurrent events bears a low risk and is technically feasible with high success rates [2,4-11]. Anzola et al. showed that there are 9% of patients left with residual shunt at 1 year post interventional PFO closure [12]. However, there is still the question of clinical outcome for different catheter devices and the relevance of residual shunting on the recurrence of ischemic events during long term follow-up (FU) [13].

The aims of this prospective cohort study were (i) to evaluate the incidence of residual interatrial shunting after interventional PFO- closure, (ii) to identify risk factors predicting residual interatrial shunting after successful device implantation and (iii) to investigate the outcome of patients after PFO- closure during a long- term FU period of at minimum 5 years, focused on the recurrence of arterial embolism after device implantation.

Materials and methods

In a prospective observational monocenter cohort- study, symptomatic patients with documented PFO undergoing interventional PFO-closure were enrolled between May 2000 and April 2005 at the Department of Cardiology, University of Bonn, Germany. Patients with other identified causes for systemic embolism were excluded from the study. PFO closure was performed using four different devices according to device and size availability:

1. Amplatzer PFO Occluder (AGA Medical, Minneapolis, Minn., US; Diameter 25 and 35 mm); 2. CardioSeal Occluder (NMT Medical, Boston, Mass., US; Diameter 23, 28 and 33 mm); 3. Helex Occluder (GOREMedical Flagstaff, Ariz., US; Diameter: 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 mm); 4. and Premere Occluder (St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, Minn. US; Diameter: 20 and 25 mm).

The study was approved by the local ethics committee, and all patients were asked to give their informed consent.

Follow up procedure

Follow-up contrast enhanced transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) after Valsalva manoeuver were performed in all patients on days 1, 7 and 28, and on months 3, 6, 12 and 24. At time of TEE, the patients underwent clinical FU examination for new onset of arterial embolism. After completion of echocardiographic FU-procedures, all patients were contacted 6 monthly by telephone call for the occurrence of clinical endpoints, minimum FU period was 5 years.

Echocardiography

Two-dimensional contrast enhanced echocardiography was performed with commercially available ultrasound scanner (Vivid 7, GE Medical systems, Wankesha, WI, and iE33, Philips, Andover, Massachusetts). A broadband transthoracic transducer and a multiplane trans- esophageal 5-MHz transducer were used. For TTE and TEE a 20 gauge intravenous catheter was introduced into the right antecubital vein. As right heart contrast agent EchoVist (EchoVist^®, Schering, Berlin, Germany) was administered with a bolus injection of 2-5 ml as needed for complete opacification of the right heart chambers. The Valsalva-maneuver was conducted at each study visit and repeated until opacifation of the right atrium and interatrial septum after valsalva manoeuvre was considered of sufficient quality [14,15]. A PFO or residual shunt was determined on contrast appearance of micro bubbles within three cardiac cycles following opacification of the right atrium. The images were reviewed during the procedure and offline by a single experienced observer. Atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) was defined as a membrane excursion of the interatrial septum of at least 10 mm with a base diameter of the aneurysm of at least 15 mm. Under TEE spontaneous or induced right-to- left-shunt was defined as grade 0 if no bubbles could be detected. Grade 1 was attributed if less than 10 bubbles were seen. Grade 2 was defined if more or equal than 10 bubbles up to a distinct contrast jet opacification was seen and grade 3 if a severe filling of more than 25% of a left heart chamber was recorded. Grade 2 and 3 were regarded as significant shunts [5,8].

Device implantation

The PFO was crossed under fluoroscopic and TEE guidance with a 4 or 6 F multipurpose catheter. Depending on the occluder-type either a 9 to 12 French long sheath was placed across the atrial septum or a short 12 French sheath with an over the wire technique was used. After thoroughly flushing the loaded implantation system to prevent air embolism the device was placed under fluroscopic and TEE guidance Discharge from the hospital was on the next day after post-interventional TTE/TEE and 12 lead-ECG examination. After implantation of PFO-occluder all patients received dual antiplatelet therapy with clopido- grel and aspirin for 3 months, therafter aspirin was given until 12 months after the procedure. In subjects with residual interatrial shunting during TEE, antiplatelet-therapy with aspirin was extended until echocardiography confirmed complete PFO- closure,

Clinical follow-up

Clinical apparent arterial embolism was defined as is- chemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, myocardial infarction, or systemic embolism. All patients with recurrent arterial embolism underwent additional contrast-TEE for evaluation of the occluder system and septal anatomy. All documented arterial ischemic events during the follow- up period were considered to be PFO related unless further clinical evaluation confirmed other source of embolism.

Statistic

Comparison of numerical variables was performed with the Student t test or Wilcoxon rank sum test, depending on variable distribution. The chi-square test or Fischer's exact test was used to compare qualitative variables. Comparison between groups was analyzed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferri's post-tests. A Cox multivariate analysis including all variables with p value < 0.2 in the Cox univariate analysis was used to determine the predictive factors of cumulative late mortality. Survival rates up to 5 years were presented as Kaplan-Meier curves, and the log- rank test was used for comparison between groups. Differences were considered statistically significant at p values < 0.05. The data were analyzed with SPSS statistical software version 17 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL).

Results

A consecutive series of 124 patients (31-76 years) with a history of ≥ 1 paradoxical embolism, of that 70 (54.8%) with concomitant atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) were treated with an Amplatzer PFO Occluder, n = 52; CardioSeal Occluder, n = 33; Helex Occluder, n = 23; and Premere Occluder, n = 16.

Mean-FU-period was 6.7 ± 1.3 years (range 5-9.75 years), overall 827.17 patient years were reviewed for the occurrence of clinical endpoints.

Procedural details

The 4 patients groups did not differ significantly with respect to clinical variables such as age, sex and concomitant medication. In all patients, occluder devices were successfully implanted. In 1 case, an Amplatzer PFO occluder that had embolized into the pulmonary artery 24 h post implantation was percutaneously trapped, subsequently followed by the re-implantation of a PFO occluder with bigger diameter during the same procedure (baseline characteristics and procedural details are listed in Table 1).

Table 1.

Baseline characteristics and procedural details at time of PFO-closure.

n = 124	Amplatzer 52		CardioSeal 3.3		Helex 23		PREMERE 16
Demographic data
Age	50.7	± 12.9	47.3	± 14.1	44.4	± 11.1	55.6	± 13.1
Male	28	53.8%	18	54.5%	7	30.4%	5	31.3%
Female	24	46.15%	15	45.45%	16	69.57%	11	68.75%
Follow-up [months]	87.8	± 19.6	75.0	± 9.6	79.4	± 8.4	54.6	± 3.0
CAD	13	25.0%	5	15.2	3	13.0%	7	43.8%
Hyperlipidemia	27	51.9%	14	42.4%	12	52.2%	9	56.3%
Hypertension	26	50.0%	10	30.3%	8	34.8%	6	37.5%
Smoking	15	28.8%	8	24.2%	2	8.7%	2	12.5%
Diabetes mellitus	2	3.8%	1	3.0%	1	4.3%	2	12.5%
BMI (kg/m2)	27.2	± 4.6	25.3	± 3.9	24.4	± 4.5	25.9	± 3.9
Peripheral embolism	3	5.8%	2	6.1%	2	8.7%	0	0.00%
Central embolism	4	7.7%	3	9.1%	2	8.7%	1	6.3%
TIA	17	32.7%	11	33.3%	13	56.5%	9	56.3%
Stroke	36	69.2%	22	66.7%	9	39.1%	12	75.0%
Medication
Aspirin	24	46.2	14	42.4	10	43.5	11	68.8%
VKA	7	13.5	7	21.2	5	21.7	1	6.3%
Clopidogrel	1	1.9	2	6.1	1	4.3	4	25.0%
ACEI	8	15.4	5	15.2	1	2.0%	2	12.5%
Statins	10	19.2	5	15.2	2	8.7	3	18.8%
Diuretics	1	1.9	0	0	0	0%	1	6.3%
CCB	2	3.8	0	0	0	0%	2	12.5%
Echocardiographic data
Ejection fraction	56.4	± 6.8	57.3	± 5.0	57.1	± 4.7	57.2	± 7.3
Left atrial diameter (mm)	39.6	± 3.7	40.0	± 4.4	39.45	± 3.4	40.3	± 4.9
ASA	27	51.9%	17	51.2%	10	43.5%	14	85.7%
Chiari network	1	1.9%	3	9.1%	2	8.7%	1	6.3%
Eustachian valve	14	26.9%	3	9.1%	3	13.0%	4	25.0%
Procedural data
Procedural success [%]	100		100		100		100
> 1 placement attempt	6	11.5	2	6.1%	3	13.0%	0	0%
Device size (mm)	22-35		17-33		20-35		20-25
Procedural complications
Device embolization	1	1.9%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%
Air embolization	0	0%	1	3.03%	0	0%	0	0%
Pericardial effusion	1	1.9%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%
Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation	1	1.9%	1	3.03%	0	0%	0	0%

BMI = body mass index, TIA = transitory ischemic attack, VKA = vitamin-K-antagonist, ACEI = angiotensin convertin enzyme inhibitor, CCB = calcium canal blocker, CAD = coronary artery disease, ASA = atrial septal aneurysm.

Residual shunting after successful PFO-closure

Closure rates increased from 65.3% immediately post- procedure up to 82.3% after 6 months, 84.7% at 12 months and 87.1% at 24 months. All patients were clinically asymptomatic. Closure rates at months 3, 6, 12, and 24 were 88.5, 88.5, 92.3, 94.2% with the Amplatzer-device; 81.8, 84.8, 87.9, 90.9% using the CardioSeal device; 87.5, 87.5, 87.5, 87.5% after using the Pemere occluder and 60.9, 60.9, 62.3, 65.2% for Helex occluders, (Figures 1 and 2).

Figure 1.

TEE results indicating device related closure rates during follow up.

Figure 2.

TEE results indicating device related closure rates after 24 months.

The observed differences in time-to-closure-rates were statistically significant (p- logrank = 0.003, figure 2), this difference was predominantly driven by a high rate of residual interatrial shunting after implantation of a Helex-device, p-values for comparison be- tween different occluder types after 24 months are given in Table 2.

Table 2.

Comparison of different occluder types regarding the observed closure rates after 24 months.

	Amplatzer	CardioSeal	Helex	Premere	p-value	p-value
Amplatzer		1.0	< 0.0001	1.00
CardioSeal			0.004	1.00
Helex				0.065
Premere

Risk factors for residual interatrial shunt

Results of univariate and multivariate analysis are given in Tables 3a and 3b. Independent predictors for residual interatrial shunt after technical successful percutaneous closure of PFO were implantation of a Helex device (hazard ratio [HR] 12.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.57- 57.43, p = 0.002), PFO-canal- lengths [per mm] (HR 1.17, 95%CI 1.05- 1.31, p = 0.004) and extend of ASA [per mm] (HR 1.13, 95%CI 0.95- 1.29; p = 0.05). The width of PFO and pre-procedural determined severity of inter-atrial shunting were not predictive for residual shunting after 24 months.

Table 3.

3a. Univariate analysis of single variables predicting residual interatrial shunting after interventional PFO- closure.

Factor	HR	95% CI		P
Premere	1,628	,052	51,027	,782
Cardioseal	3,697	,486	28,156	,207
Helex	19,048	2,409	150,639	,005
PFO length [mm]	1,162	,998	1,353	,054
ASA[mm]	1,130	,950	1,344	,169
Eustachian valve	2,508	,461	13,652	,287
Chiari network	3,758	,510	27,722	,194
Severity of shunting	1,012	,998	1,026	,091
3b. Multivariate-regression analysis for the most predictive factors for residual shunting after PFO-closure.
Factor	HR	95% CI		p
Helex	12.58	2.573	57.438	,002
PFO-length	1,173	1.052	1,307	,004
ASA	1,130	,950	1,29	,05

HR = hazard ratio, CI = confidence interval, ASA = atrial septum aneurysm, PFO = persistent foramen ovale, Eustach = prevalence of Eustachien valve, Chiari = prevalence of chiari-net

Clinical outcome data

During 6.67 ± 1.31 years 4 arterial embolic events occurred in 3 of 124 patients (2.4%). Reviewing 817.17 patient-years, the actuarial annual thromboembolic risk was 0.49%. All ischemic events occurred in patients without incidence of residual interatrial shunt during contrast enhanced TEE. One patient experienced two transitory ischemic attacks due to carotid plaques, another patient was hospitalized with acute peripheral leg ischemia due to embolization of an abdominal aortic plaque and one patient experienced a major-stroke after new onset of atrial-fibrillation with echocardiographic proven thrombus formation within the left atrial appendage.

Echocardiography after arterial embolism showed correct function of the occluder device. Statistical analysis failed to identify risk factors predicting recurrent embolism.

In 1 case, a PFO was closed surgically due to a minimal residual shunt, despite this patient remained asymptomatic after percutaneous PFO-closure.

Discussion

This is the first prospective study aiming to investigate the incidence, predictors and clinical impact of persistent interatrial shunting after successful interventional closure of PFO during a long term follow up period. Importantly, all patients underwent serial TEE examinations for 24 months after the procedure and clinical outcome data were acquired with a minimum FU period was 5 years.

The most important findings of this study are, that (i) the prevalence of residual shunting after PFO-closure is relatively high with 13% after two years, (ii) interventional success mainly depends on the choice of closure- device and, (iii) the annual risk for recurrent arterial embolism after technical successful PFO- closure is relatively low with 0.49% per patient-year, and seems independent of persistent interatrial shunting.

Available data

Anzola et al. investigated 140 patients undergoing serial contrast-enhanced transcranial Doppler ofter sucesseful percutaneous PFO-closure. During Valsalva-strain a large shunt was detectable in 9% of patients after 12-months. Only 1 ischemic event occured in a patient with complete PFO closure [12]. The patients in this study did not undergo serial TEE- exami- nations after PFO- closure; therefore, device-related thrombi could not be excluded as well as minor- residual shunts as potential source of embolism and clinical FU was limited to 12 moths.

More recently Von Bardeleben et al. examined 357 patients undergoing PFO closure [16], after a mean follow up period of 3.8 years the re-event rate of is-chemic thromboembolism was 0.7% per patient year. No relation to residual PFO-shunting or to thrombus formation was seen, which is in concordance with our results. However, FU- period in our study population was significantly longer and we can confirm, that the event- rate remains low after more than 5 years of FU.

In contrast to our data Windecker S et al. investigated in 1994 80 patients after percutaneous PFO closure focussing on the long-term risk of recurrent thromboembolic events [17]. Interestingly, in this cohort study the actuarial annual risk for recurrent throm- boembolic events was 3.4% and the extent of post- procedural shunt was the most important predictor for recurrent paradoxical embolism. These early data must be interpreted with caution, since occluder-devices and implantation-techniques may have improved over the following years.

Clinical impact of residual shunt after technical successful PFO closure

Closure of PFO is technical feasible with high acute success rates. The number of patients is consistently increasing despite debate is still going on if this intervention really helps to diminish recurrent ischemic events since data from prospective randomized studies are lacking [5,18-22]. Residual interatrial shunting after PFO-closure is a frequent finding [12] and the impact on the patients' clinical outcome is unclear and not systematically investigated. In this context our data are very important, as we show, that the occurrence of arterial embolism after PFO closure is not related to residual interatrial shunt. As a consequence, routine TEE follow up after technical successful PFO-closure seems not necessary in asymptomatic individuals.

Limitations

This study is limited by the single site data collection and the non- randomized fashion. We cannot exclude decision bias from the referring physicians. In our study FU after 24 months was performed by telephone call which helped to minimize the drop- out- rate. The predictable value of the identified prognostic variables must be tested prospectively before a validated risk score can be established.

Conclusion

Although residual shunts may be documented soon after device implantation, they consistently decrease over time and residual shunt is detectable in about 13% of patients after two years of follow up. Transient residual shunting was found more frequent with PFO closure using the Helex (in up to 30- 40%) than the Amplatzer, Premere or CardioSeal occluder. Predictors for residual shunts are PFO- anatomy and the choice of closure device. Clinically, these residual shunts were not accompanied by recurrent thromboembolic events after a long term follow up period of at minimum 5 years, and the observed embolic event rate is low.

Conflict of interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.