About the PFO Closure Procedure

During the procedure

PFO closure is a same-day, outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia or conscious sedation in a heart catheterization laboratory. The catheter-based procedure involves making a very small skin incision, guided by fluoroscopy and intracardiac echocardiography, typically in the right groin area, and inserting a catheter to guide the Amplatzer™ Talisman™ PFO Occluder through the blood vessels to close the PFO within the patient’s heart.

Once the device is placed across the PFO, the cardiologist will carefully study its position using cardiac imaging tools. When the cardiologist is satisfied with the position of the occluder, it will be released to remain permanently in the heart. All catheters will then be removed, and the implant procedure will be complete. The procedure should last between 1 and 2 hours.

What happens after the PFO Closure Procedure?

After the procedure, the interventional cardiologist will discuss an after-care plan with the patient. The patient can expect to be discharged from the hospital within 24 hours and may be prescribed aspirin (81 to 325 mg) and clopidogrel (75 mg) to be taken daily for 1 month after the implant procedure, followed by daily aspirin (81 to 325 mg) alone for at least 5 additional months. Additional medication (typically aspirin daily) may be prescribed beyond 6 months. Patients should have an echocardiogram at 6 months so the medical team can make sure that the device is properly implanted.

Integrate PFO Closure into your neurology practice with this three-step process:

Identify possible candidates for closure

Perform a detailed workup using the 2020 AAN practice advisory for specific recommendations

Collaborate with an interventional cardiologist to select appropriate patients

Find an interventional cardiologist near you using our Find a Physician/Center tool

Present PFO closure as an option to your patients

Access and share information for patients leveraging materials under the Resources tab

Want to know more about the device?

The Amplatzer™ Talisman™ PFO Occluder significantly lowers the risk of recurrent ischemic stroke, and it offers an excellent safety profile.

Amplatzer Talisman PFO Occluder

MAT-2002580 v3.0 | Item approved for U.S. use only.