Index
Patent Foramen Ovale
What Is 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.
- In the fetal heart, the foramen ovale also foramen Botalli, or the ostium secundum of Born, allows blood to enter the left atrium from the right atrium. It is one of two fetal cardiac shunts, the other being the ductus arteriosus (which allows blood that still escapes to the right ventricle to bypass the pulmonary circulation). Another similar adaptation in the fetus is the ductus venosus. In most individuals, the foramen ovale closes at birth. It later forms the fossa ovalis.
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.
- In the fetal heart, the foramen ovale also foramen Botalli, or the ostium secundum of Born, allows blood to enter the left atrium from the right atrium. It is one of two fetal cardiac shunts, the other being the ductus arteriosus (which allows blood that still escapes to the right ventricle to bypass the pulmonary circulation). Another similar adaptation in the fetus is the ductus venosus. In most individuals, the foramen ovale closes at birth. It later forms the fossa ovalis.
What Causes Patent Foramen Ovale?
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.
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.
What are the Signs & Symptoms of Patent Foramen Ovale?
Infants with a PFO and no other heart defects do not have symptoms.
Some adults with PFOs also suffer from migraine headaches.
A PFO usually causes no problems, so most babies who have one do not show symptoms. Many active adults have a PFO and do not know it.
Sometimes having a PFO is helpful. Babies born with serious heart problems or pulmonary hypertension
(high blood pressure in the lungs) and a PFO may have less severe symptoms because the PFO lets blood from the two sides of the heart mix.
HEART CONDITIONS Diseases and Treated FAQ's
An echocardiogram can be done to diagnose a PFO.
If the PFO is not easily seen, a cardiologist can perform a "bubble test." Saline solution (salt water) is injected into the body as the cardiologist watches the heart on an ultrasound (echocardiogram) monitor.
If a PFO exists, tiny air bubbles will be seen moving from the right to left side of the heart.
If the PFO is not easily seen, a cardiologist can perform a "bubble test." Saline solution (salt water) is injected into the body as the cardiologist watches the heart on an ultrasound (echocardiogram) monitor.
If a PFO exists, tiny air bubbles will be seen moving from the right to left side of the heart.
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.
Unless there are other defects, there are no complications from a PFO in most cases.
Some people may have a condition shortness of breath and low arterial blood oxygen levels when sitting or standing.
This is called platypnea-orthodeoxia.
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).
Some people may take medicines to prevent blood clots.
Some people may have a condition shortness of breath and low arterial blood oxygen levels when sitting or standing.
This is called platypnea-orthodeoxia.
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).
Some people may take medicines to prevent blood clots.