pfo/asa closure

[pacoberto]

Last July 30th my little girl 11 years old with pfo (type ostium secundum) and asa diagnosed through TEE at June 2008, failed the  procedure of closing with the amplatzer device due to lack of rim. Now in 2 days the doctors are insisting to close it though a opean heart surgery. The size of the PFO according the TTE is up to 18 mm, with a little regurgitation in the tricuspid valve. Estimated eyection fraction 65-70 % left  to wright shunt. It's that correct way to proceed?
We approved the first intervention  for prevention of strokes, she is healthy with no strokes events before.
But now I don't know what to do?
Please help

[pacoberto]

the shunt is bigger than 2:1

[Darcy Green Conaway, MD]

I am not a pediatric cardiologist and this question would be better suited for a pediatric cardiologist. Having said that, I think what's important is the size of the ASD (18mm) and the severity of the shunt. You need to get some information about the severity of the shunt (how much blood flow is crossing the ASD).