Baxter Health Introduces PFO Treatment Option to Reduce Risk of Current Stroke

The Baxter Health Heart Team successfully performed their first procedure using Abbott’s Amplatzer Talisman PFO Occlusion System. This therapy treats patients with a patent foramen ovale (PFO) who are at risk of recurrent ischemic stroke. With a new 30mm device offering, the Talisman system provides the industry’s most complete portfolio of PFO occluder sizes in the U.S. Additionally, the Talisman occluder comes pre-attached to the delivery cable, reducing prep time ahead of the procedure and making it easier to use.

“With the introduction of the Amplatzer Talisman PFO Occlusion System, we are able to offer our patients a more effective and efficient treatment for reducing the risk of recurrent ischemic stroke,” said Dr. Zaid Alirhayim, board-certified cardiologist at Baxter Health. “This advanced technology not only provides a broader range of device sizes to meet individual patient needs, but its pre-attached delivery system significantly reduces preparation time, allowing for a smoother, quicker procedure. By offering a minimally invasive solution to close the PFO, we are helping to improve patient outcomes and quality of life, all while minimizing recovery time.”

A PFO is a hole in the heart when the foramen ovale – a flap-like opening that is a normal part of fetal development allowing oxygenated blood to pass through the baby's heart and bypass the lungs – doesn't close as it should following birth. A PFO may cause stroke by allowing blood clots to pass from the right side of the heart to the left, from where they may travel to the brain. For patients who have suffered a stroke as a result of their PFO, physicians may opt for occlusion (or closure) of the PFO through a minimally invasive procedure using therapy like the Talisman system to seal off the opening to reduce the risk of another stroke.

Abbott recently announced that the Amplatzer Talisman PFO Occluder received FDA approval. The FDA also cleared the Amplatzer Talisman Delivery Sheath, used to deliver the occluder during implantation.

For more information about heart care at Baxter Health, please visit baxterhealth.org/heart.