The NHS finally approves PFO Closure!
Dr Malik says: The strongest class of evidence (3 Randomised Trials) has been there for at least 2 years and I have been doing the procedure for 15 years. It reduces the risk of recurrent stroke if there is no obvious alternative cause found. I am glad I can now offer it to these young patients without the arguments about funding that have raged over the last 5 years.
NHS England recently published an article (read it here) where they announced:
“Hole in the heart – or Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) – is a common condition which can trigger strokes. This potentially lifesaving procedure helps remove the risk by closing the hole … this expected to benefit up to 1,500 patients a year. The decision to routinely fund PFO closure comes after the procedure was assessed under NHS England’s Commissioning through Evaluation programme which builds evidence about effectiveness.”