Device closure of patent foramen ovale with the St Jude’s Premere device

The technique of transcatheter patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure, using double occluder type devices, has been well described in the literature, and in earlier chapters in this book. While the implantation of such a device is generally quite safe, there have been a number of late, device-related complications which continue to cause concern, including device thrombosis, atrial arrhythmia, device erosion, and anatomic/device distortion with residual shunting in a patient with a long, non-compliant PFO tunnel. The St Jude’s Premere PFO Closure system, a modified double occluder, was designed to minimize these specific risks. Early clinical results are available.