Percutaneous patent foramen ovale closure for hypoxaemia at the age of 73: a case report showing immediate benefit

Lars S Witte; Bart Straver; Berto J Bouma; Robbert J de Winter; Marcel A M Beijk

doi:10.1093/ehjcr/ytae415

Percutaneous patent foramen ovale closure for hypoxaemia at the age of 73: a case report showing immediate benefit

Eur Heart J Case Rep. 2024 Aug 16;8(8):ytae415. doi: 10.1093/ehjcr/ytae415. eCollection 2024 Aug.

Authors

Lars S Witte^{1

2}, Bart Straver^{1

2}, Berto J Bouma^{1

2}, Robbert J de Winter^{1

2}, Marcel A M Beijk^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ CAHAL, Center for Congenital Heart Disease Amsterdam Leiden, Amsterdam, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
² Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Background: Approximately 25% of the general population has a patent foramen ovale (PFO) that remains asymptomatic in the vast majority. Right-to-left shunt (RLS)-mediated hypoxaemia is a rare associated condition of PFO.

Case summary: This report describes a case of percutaneous PFO closure for hypoxaemia in a 73-year-old patient showing immediate clinical benefit. She experienced progressive dyspnoea on exertion requiring oxygen therapy. SaO2 was 87% at rest without oxygen therapy, which increased to 98% after percutaneous PFO closure.

Discussion: Most PFOs remain clinically insignificant but RLS-mediated hypoxaemia is a rare phenomenon that can occur even at advanced age. Percutaneous PFO closure is a safe and effective therapy option that provides immediate improvement of hypoxaemia.

Keywords: Case report; Hypoxaemia; Patent foramen ovale; Percutaneous closure; Right-to-left shunt.

Publication types

Case Reports