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<front>
<journal-meta>
<journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">CC</journal-id>
<journal-id journal-id-type="nlm-ta">Cardiol Croat</journal-id>
<journal-title-group>
<journal-title>Cardiologia Croatica</journal-title>
<abbrev-journal-title abbrev-type="pubmed">Cardiol. Croat.</abbrev-journal-title>
</journal-title-group>
<issn pub-type="ppub">1848-543X</issn>
<issn pub-type="epub">1848-5448</issn>
<publisher><publisher-name>Croatian Cardiac Society</publisher-name></publisher>
</journal-meta>
<article-meta>
<article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">CC_13(1-2)_61</article-id>
<article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.15836/ccar2018.61</article-id>
<article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="heading"><subject>Extended Abstract</subject></subj-group>
</article-categories>
<title-group>
<article-title>Setting up a multidisciplinary program for management of cryptogenic stroke associated with patent foramen ovale</article-title>
</title-group>
<contrib-group>
<contrib contrib-type="author" corresp="yes"><name><surname>Si&#x010D;aja</surname><given-names>Mario</given-names></name><ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0773-4720">https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0773-4720</ext-link><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1">*</xref></contrib>
<aff id="aff1"><institution>University Hospital Dubrava</institution>, <addr-line>Zagreb</addr-line>, <country>Croatia</country></aff>
</contrib-group>
<author-notes>
<corresp id="cor1"><label>*</label>ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Mario Si&#x010D;aja, Klini&#x010D;ka bolnica Dubrava, Avenija Gojka &#x0160;u&#x0161;ka 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia. / Phone: +385-91-406-0989 / E-mail: <email xlink:href="mario.sicaja@gmail.com">mario.sicaja@gmail.com</email></corresp></author-notes>
<pub-date pub-type="epub-ppub"><month>02</month><year>2018</year></pub-date>
<volume>13</volume>
<issue>1-2</issue>
<fpage>61</fpage>
<lpage>61</lpage>
<history>
<date date-type="received"><day>28</day><month>01</month><year>2018</year></date><date date-type="accepted"><day>10</day><month>02</month><year>2018</year></date>
</history>
<permissions>
<copyright-year>2018</copyright-year>
<copyright-holder>Croatian Cardiac Society</copyright-holder>
</permissions>
<kwd-group kwd-group-type="author"><title>Keywords: </title><kwd>persistent foramen ovale</kwd><kwd>management</kwd><kwd>percutaneous closure</kwd></kwd-group>
</article-meta>
</front>
<body>
<p>In the light of recent publications regarding patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure in patients with cryptogenic stroke, specifically regarding the results of trials CLOSE, REDUCE and RESPECT, there is an increasing need for optimal treatment of these patients. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="r1"><italic>1</italic></xref>, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="r2"><italic>2</italic></xref>) The aim of this presentation is to propose a multidisciplinary program regarding the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with PFO-mediated stroke based on a Heart-Brain team decision making. It is our aim to analyze necessary steps in everyday clinical practice, describe procedure work-flow together with tips-and-tricks regarding the procedure, and to review the activities during the first year of implementation in our practice. In conclusion, the first year of implementation of the above described program allowed us a quick implementation of published trial results in every day clinical practice together with high level of confidence, a short learning curve for a dedicated interventional cardiologist and with a superior patient safety. Furthermore, it allowed us to indicate the potential flaws in the protocol and practice, especially regarding reimbursement for healthcare insurance.</p>
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<ref-list>
<title>LITERATURE</title>
<ref id="r1"><label>1</label><mixed-citation publication-type="journal"><person-group person-group-type="author"><name><surname>Rigatelli</surname><given-names>G</given-names></name><name><surname>Braggion</surname><given-names>G</given-names></name><name><surname>Chinaglia</surname><given-names>M</given-names></name><name><surname>Cardaioli</surname><given-names>P</given-names></name><name><surname>Roncon</surname><given-names>L</given-names></name><name><surname>Giordan</surname><given-names>M</given-names></name><etal/></person-group> <article-title>Setting up a multidisciplinary program for management of patent foramen ovale-mediated syndromes.</article-title> <source>J Interv Cardiol</source>. <year>2006</year> Jun;<volume>19</volume>(<issue>3</issue>):<fpage>264</fpage>&#x2013;<lpage>8</lpage>. <pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1111/j.1540-8183.2006.00141.x</pub-id><pub-id pub-id-type="pmid">16724970</pub-id></mixed-citation></ref>
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</ref-list>
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