Volume 72 Number 3 May 2005	back to contents

1 Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria and 2 Department of Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine, and Angiology, DRK-Kliniken Berlin, Germany.

Address all correspondence to Beate Hugl, M.D., Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria; e-mail: beate.hugl@uibk.ac.at

Accepted for publication October 2004.

ABSTRACT

Although a patent foramen ovale (PFO) is often found in younger patients with transient ischemic attacks or stroke, paradoxical embolization through PFO is rarely considered as a cause of acute limb ischemia.

We report a single-center experience of 5 consecutive patients with limb-threatening ischemia due to paradoxical embolization within a one-year period. All patients were treated by catheter thrombectomy and long-term oral anticoagulation after surgery.

The fact that the 5 embolectomies made up 10% of all embolectomies performed in our center during this time interval may indicate that the role of paradoxical embolization is still underestimated in peripheral embolic disease.

KEYWORDS

Paradoxical embolism, patent foramen ovale, peripheral ischemia.

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