Application effect of transthoracic echocardiography monitoring in percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale

Objective To observe the effect of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) monitoring in percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO).

Methods The data of 98 patients with PFO were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent interventional plugging. They were divided into X-ray group (n=50) and TTE group (n=48) according to different intraoperative guidance methods. The occlusions, complications, surgical indexes, right-to-left shunt (RLS) grading and the improvement of headache in patients with migraine were compared between the two groups.

Results A total of 98 cases of PFO were successfully occluded, among which 2 cases in the TTE group received transesophageal ultrasound guidance due to poor intraoperative sound window. The operation time of the TTE group was significantly longer than that of the X-ray group (P < 0.05). After operation, RLS rating and Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) score of migraine patients in the two groups were significantly lower than those before operation (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Simple TTE guided percutaneous PFO occlusion has a good improvement effect on RLS and migraine in PFO patients, and can avoid radiation damage caused by X-ray to doctors and patients.