Learn About Patent Foramen Ovale
Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a hole between the left and right atria (upper chambers) of the heart. This hole exists in everyone before birth, but most often closes shortly after being born. PFO is what the hole is called when it fails to close naturally after a baby is born.
PFO; Congenital heart defect - PFO
A foramen ovale allows blood to go around the lungs. A baby's lungs are not used when it grows in the womb, so the hole does not cause problems in an unborn infant.
The opening is supposed to close soon after birth, but sometimes it does not. In about 1 out of 4 people, the opening never closes. If it does not close, it is called a PFO.
The cause of a PFO is unknown. There are no known risk factors. It can be found along with other heart abnormalities such as atrial septal aneurysms or Chiari network.
Infants with a PFO and no other heart defects do not have symptoms. Some adults with PFOs also suffer from migraine headaches.
This condition is not treated unless there are other heart problems, symptoms, or if the person had a stroke caused by a blood clot to the brain.
Treatment most often requires a procedure called cardiac catheterization, which is performed by a trained cardiologist to permanently seal the PFO. Open heart surgery is no longer used to treat this condition unless another surgery is being performed.
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Richard Krasuski is an Interventional Cardiologist in Morrisville, North Carolina. Dr. Krasuski and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Patent Foramen Ovale. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), Patent Foramen Ovale, Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), Heart Transplant, and Thrombectomy. Dr. Krasuski is currently accepting new patients.
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Shunichi Homma is a Cardiologist in New York, New York. Dr. Homma and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Patent Foramen Ovale. His top areas of expertise are Patent Foramen Ovale, Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy, Parathyroidectomy, and Patent Foramen Ovale Repair.
Gianluca Rigatelli practices in Monselice, Italy. Mr. Rigatelli and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Patent Foramen Ovale. His top areas of expertise are Patent Foramen Ovale, Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), Coronary Heart Disease, Stent Placement, and Patent Foramen Ovale Repair.
An infant who has no other heart defects will have normal health and life span.
Unless there are other defects, there are no complications from a PFO in most cases.
Some people may have a condition with shortness of breath and low arterial blood oxygen levels when sitting or standing. This is called platypnea-orthodeoxia. This is rare.
Rarely, people with PFOs may have a higher rate of a certain type of stroke (called paradoxical thromboembolic stroke). In a paradoxical stroke, a blood clot that develops in a vein (often leg veins) breaks free and travels to the right side of the heart. Normally, this clot would then continue to the lungs, but in someone with a PFO, the clot could pass through the hole to the left side of the heart. It may then be pumped out to the body, travel to the brain and become stuck there, preventing blood flow to that part of the brain (stroke).
Having a very mobile septum along with a PFO may lead to a higher risk for having a stroke.
Some people may take medicines to prevent blood clots.
Contact your health care provider if your baby turns blue when crying or having a bowel movement, has difficulty feeding, or showing poor growth.
Summary: This study aims to investigate (1) the de novo cerebral microembolization in patients who undergo transcatheter closure of PFO or ASD, and (2) evaluate the relationship between de novo cerebral microembolization and in situ thrombus within PFO.
Summary: This study aims to (1) investigate the internal microstructure of patent foramen ovale related to cryptogenic stroke, transient ischemic attack or migraine and determine the effectiveness of transcatheter closure in these patients; (2) evaluate the microstructural features of asymptomatic patients with PFO and make a follow-up；(3) perform an untargeted metabolomics analysis using plasma samples fr...
Published Date: October 23, 2023
Published By: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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Therrien J, Marelli AJ. Congenital heart disease in adults. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 55.
Valente AM, Dorfman AL, Babu-Narayan SV, Kreiger EV. Congenital heart disease in the adolescent and adult. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 82.