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Make edits, fill in missing information, and update formatting in US Legal Forms—just like you would in MS Word.

Download a copy, print it, send it by email, or mail it via USPS—whatever works best for your next step.

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If this form requires notarization, complete it online through a secure video call—no need to meet a notary in person or wait for an appointment.

We protect your documents and personal data by following strict security and privacy standards.
If you were born with a hole in your heart that never closed, known as a patent foramen ovale (PFO), you may need a procedure to correct it. Penn Medicine cardiologists use interventional techniques to close a patent foramen ovale without opening your chest for surgery.
Treatment most often requires a procedure called cardiac catheterization, which is performed by a trained cardiologist to permanently seal the PFO.
Surgical closure during heart surgery - A cardiac surgeon can stitch shut the PFO hole. This surgical heart procedure can be accomplished with a tiny incision and robotic techniques.
Patent foramen ovale occurs in about 1 in 4 people. Most people with the condition never know they have it. A patent foramen ovale is often discovered during tests for other health problems.
A patent foramen ovale may be difficult to confirm on a standard echocardiogram. Your provider may recommend this test to get a closer look at the heart. A transesophageal echocardiogram takes pictures of the heart from inside the body. It's considered the most accurate way to diagnose a patent foramen ovale.
Your healthcare provider may also repair the PFO by transcatheter repair or heart surgery. A transcatheter repair is less invasive than a surgical repair.
Rarely, a patent foramen ovale can cause a significant amount of blood to go around the lungs. This lowers blood oxygen levels, a condition called hypoxemia. Stroke. Sometimes small blood clots in veins may travel to the heart.
How is patent foramen ovale treated? Antiplatelet medicines such as aspirin, to help prevent blood clots. Anticoagulant medicines such as warfarin, to help prevent blood clots. Closure of the PFO with a catheter-based procedure. Closure of the PFO during heart surgery.