A 47-year-old female underwent interventional patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure with
an Amplatzer septal occluder (AGA Medical Corporation, USA). After 48 hours of implantation,
she experienced intermittent pulse synchronous retrosternal pain. Subsequently, device-associated
compression of the aortic root was diagnosed. Occluder retrieval and surgical PFO-closure
was accomplished successfully via minimal invasive, video-assisted anterolateral thoracotomy.
Keywords
patent foramen ovale - septal occluder - aorta - anterolateral thoracotomy