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Patent Foramen Ovale Closure Program
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Four years ago with the release of the first percutaneously implantable PFO closure device a program was initiated at UCH that has grown both clinically and academically. This rapidly evolving area of medicine has presented UCD will multiple innovative research efforts involving multidisciplinary teams. The clinical program has developed a regional reputation for high-quality consultative services and excellent interventional outcomes.
Over 200 patients have been evaluated and over 100 have undergone successful percutaneous closure. Jana Keller, NP has coordinated the referral of this large number of patients from as far away as Alaska. The procedure is now done under light sedation with intracardiac echocardiographic guidance (ICE), and lasts 45 minutes with discharge 5 hours post-procedure.
The physician team has consisted also of John Carroll, as lead interventional cardiologist, Kathy Hassell as hematologist, and Alan Anderson as Neurologist.
The research opportunities developed from this new clinical program are noteworthy:
RESPECT: This is a major US randomized clinical trial of device closure versus medical therapy to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke after a cryptogenic stroke thought secondary to paradoxical embolism via the PFO. Alan Anderson is our local PI and John Carroll is on the 3-person national Steering Committee.
PFO and Hypercoagulopathy: With the lead of Kathy Hassell and involvement of former fellow Steve Dodge, our group has made presentations at international and national meetings and published manuscripts from our clinical trial to quantify the frequency of arterial and venous hypercoagulability factors/tendencies in patients referred for PFO closure.
PFO and Migraine: In 2005 we participated in a landmark study of PFO closure as an innovative therapy for migraine headaches.
UCH’s PFO program is also part of a multicenter trial (SOARS) to determine the frequency and nature of supraventricular arrhythmias that occur in a number of patients after device closure and then resolve in 1-2 months. A unique home ECG monitoring technology is used and hopefully will lead to further improvements in post-procedure care.
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John Carroll, MD
Director, PFO Closure Program
Professor of Medicine
John Messenger, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Ivan Casserly,MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
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Jana Keller, MSN
Nurse Practioner
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