Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) can be recommended for certain groups of patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke for the purpose of secondary prevention according to the latest recommendations of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). PFO closure should be considered for patients under the age of 60 years with a cardioembolic stroke who underwent a thorough examination and no other cause of the stroke was found. It was shown that this procedure significantly reduced the incidence of recurrent ischemic stroke compared with drug therapy in relatively young patients with PFO and a history of cryptogenic stroke.
