Heart–Brain Teams: A Collaborative Approach to Stroke Care
Determining the cause of a stroke, especially when the origin is unclear, requires more than a single perspective. Cardiology and neurology each play a critical role, and when aligned, they can help create a clearer path forward for patients.
Leading societies, including the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA), and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI), emphasize a multidisciplinary approach, bringing specialists and patients together to guide evaluation and management.1-3
What collaboration can support:
- Thorough evaluation: Coordinated imaging and assessment to help identify stroke source
- Shared decisions: Aligned input from cardiology, neurology, and the patient
- Connected care: Fewer gaps from diagnosis through treatment
At Gore, we follow the lead of these clinical societies and support the evidence-based guidelines they develop. Our focus is equipping physicians with the tools and partnerships they need to help bring patient-first, guideline-driven care to life.
See how a heart–brain team approach is applied in practice
In this discussion, three physicians share how multidisciplinary collaboration is shaping stroke care at their institutions. The conversation highlights practical considerations for building and optimizing a heart–brain team, including how to implement structured patient algorithms, align on roles across specialties, and ensure consistent communication throughout the care pathway.
The panel also explores how tools like the RoPE score and PASCAL classification system can help guide treatment options, along with real-world case examples that illustrate how these frameworks are applied in practice. Additional insights include best practices for cross-functional communication and how dedicated PFO clinics can be structured to streamline evaluation and decision-making.
- Messé SR, Gronseth GS, Kent DM, et al. Practice advisory update summary: patent foramen ovale and secondary stroke prevention: report of the guideline subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2020;94(20):876-885. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000009443
- Kleindorfer DO, Towfighi A, Chaturvedi S, et al. 2021 guideline for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack: a guideline from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2021;52(7):e364-e467. doi:10.1161/STR.0000000000000375
- Horlick E, Kavinsky CJ, Amin Z, et al. SCAI expert consensus statement on operator and institutional requirements for PFO closure for secondary prevention of paradoxical embolic stroke: the American Academy of Neurology affirms the value of this statement as an educational tool for neurologists. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2019;93(5):859-874. doi:10.1002/ccd.28111
Refer to Instructions for Use at eifu.goremedical.com for a complete description of all applicable indications, warnings, precautions and contraindications for the markets where this product is available. RXOnly
INDICATIONS FOR USE IN THE U.S.: The GORE® CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder is a permanently implanted device indicated for the percutaneous, transcatheter closure of the following defects of the atrial septum: ostium secundum atrial septal defects (ASDs); patent foramen ovale (PFO) to reduce the risk of recurrent ischemic stroke in patients, predominantly between the ages of 18 and 60 years, who have had a cryptogenic stroke due to a presumed paradoxical embolism, as determined by a neurologist and cardiologist following an evaluation to exclude known causes of ischemic stroke.
INDICATIONS FOR USE IN CANADA: The GORE® CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder is a permanently implanted device indicated for the percutaneous, transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects (ASDs), such as ostium secundum and patent foramen ovale.
CONTRAINDICATIONS: The GORE® CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder is contraindicated for use in patients: unable to take antiplatelet or anticoagulant medications such as aspirin, heparin or warfarin; with anatomy where the GORE® CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder size or position would interfere with other intracardiac or intravascular structures, such as cardiac valves or pulmonary veins; with active endocarditis, or other infections producing bacteremia, or patients with known sepsis within one month of planned implantation, or any other infection that cannot be treated successfully prior to device placement; with known intracardiac thrombi.