Baxter Health introduces treatment option to reduce risk of recurrent stroke

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Baxter Health’s Heart Team, led by board-certified interventional cardiologist Dr. Zaid Alirhayim, has successfully performed its first patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure using Abbott’s Amplatzer Talisman PFO Occlusion System. The procedure offers a new treatment option for patients at risk of recurrent ischemic strokes.A PFO is a small, flap-like opening in the heart that fails to close after birth, potentially allowing blood clots to travel to the brain and increase the risk of stroke. Studies suggest that patients under 60 who have experienced a cryptogenic stroke—a stroke with no identifiable cause— may benefit from PFO closure.

Dr. Zaid says “With the introduction of the Amplatzer Talisman PFO Occlusion System, we are able to offer our patients an effective and efficient treatment for reducing the risk of recurrent ischemic strokes. This procedure represents a major step forward in stroke prevention for our community.”

The Baxter Health team performed the procedure using intracardiac echocardiography, which eliminates the need for general anesthesia and allows patients to return home the same day.

Dr. Zaid, who specializes in structural heart disease interventions, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and the Watchman procedure, encouraged physicians and patients to consider the new treatment option.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact Baxter Health Cardiovascular Clinic at 870-425-8288.

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