PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - J M Strotmann
AU  - W Voelker
AU  - P Schanzenbaecher
TI  - Persistence of the eustachian valve in secundum atrial septal defects: possible implications for cerebral embolism and transcatheter closure procedures
AID  - 10.1136/hrt.86.1.e5
DP  - 2001 Jul 01
TA  - Heart
PG  - e5--e5
VI  - 86
IP  - 1
4099  - http://heart.bmj.com/content/86/1/e5.short
4100  - http://heart.bmj.com/content/86/1/e5.full
SO  - Heart2001 Jul 01; 86
AB  - Transcatheter closure of large secundum atrial septal defects is now accepted clinical practice. With the introduction of easily applicable closure devices the indications for this procedure have been expanded to include the closure of patent foramen ovale after cerebral stroke of unknown origin. In some of these patients a persistent eustachian valve is present. The clinical relevance of this finding is still unclear. A 36 year old patient with a brainstem stroke of unknown origin and a secundum atrial septal defect in combination with a persisting prominent eustachian valve is reported. The potential role of the eustachian valve in the genesis of the stroke and the difficulties during transcatheter closure of the defect because of the persisting valve are discussed.