Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is an embryogenic remnant that can be found in healthy adults with no repercussions. However, it poses a risk of paradoxical embolism. In patients with known embolic stroke, the risk of recurrence is greater. A PFO can be accompanied by morphological variants such as atrial septal aneurysms (ASA). These have been shown to further increase the risk of stroke and embolism. This is a case of a patient who presented to the emergency department with deep vein thrombosis and sub-massive pulmonary embolism. An echocardiogram showed a PFO with an ASA as an incidental finding. The defect was closed with a transcatheter PFO closure device due to a high risk of paradoxical embolism.
Keywords: atrial septal aneurysm; deep vein thrombosis (dvt); massive pulmonary embolism; patent foramen ovale (pfo); patent foramen ovale closure.
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