Introduction
Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) is a congenital intracardiac defect present in about 25% of the general population, due to incomplete fusion of septum primum and secundum after birth. It predisposes to paradoxical embolism, in which emboli from the peripheral venous system provoke systemic strokes or infarcts. Given the low incidence of paradoxical embolism (1% per year)1, percutaneous PFO closure is performed only in presence of a thromboembolic event (e.g. stroke) caused with high probability by the presence of a PFO associated with a high risk of recurrence2. After the procedure, several complications can occur: haemorrhage, pulmonary embolism, infective endocarditis, cardiac perforation and device erosion, fracture, thrombosis or embolization3. Device embolization is very rare (0.1-0.4%) but potentially life-threatening, and requires immediate removal of the embolized device3. Possible migration sites are: pulmonary artery, heart chambers, aortic arch, descending thoracic and abdominal aorta4. We report below a case of embolization of a PFO occluder device into the abdominal aorta.