Comparison of the short-term efficacy of different Amplatzer models and similar occluders in the treatment of patent foramen ovale

OBJECTIVE: To compare the recent efficacy and safety of different Amplatzer models and similar occluder in the treatment of patent foramen ovale (PFO). METHODS: Patients with PFO complicated with cryptogenic stroke or migraine who underwent transcatheter closure of PFO in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from September 2019 to March 2021 were selected. Patients were grouped according to the type of occluder device. The basic data of the patients were collected and followed up within 1 year after occlusion. Effectiveness was defined as no recurrence of stroke/remission of migraine symptoms and a negative postoperative foaming test, and safety events were counted as the combined results of serious adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 92 patients were selected, including 45 cases in the symmetrical group and 47 cases in the asymmetric group. There were no serious adverse events in the 2 groups during follow-up. 3 days and 1 month after occlusion, the number of shunt patients in the asymmetric group was significantly less than that in the symmetric group (χ(2) = 5.484, P = 0.019; χ(2) = 5.146, P = 0.023). The negative rate of blocked residual shunts in the asymmetric group was higher than that in the symmetric group at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after occlusion (χ(2) = 6.473, P = 0.011; χ(2) = 4.305, P = 0.038; χ(2) = 4.842, P = 0.027; χ(2) = 4.034, P = 0.045). Headache in migraine patients in the asymmetric group was significantly better than headache in patients in the symmetric group (P = 0.038; P = 0.049). CONCLUSION: Asymmetric Amplatzer and similar occluders provide greater efficacy in short-term occlusion than symmetric ones.