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Small holes between the upper chambers of the heart may be categorized as an atrial septal defect (ASD) or patent foramen ovale (PFO). An ASD is a congenital heart defect, a condition that you are born with. PFOs can occur only after birth when the foramen ovale fails to close.
People who do not respond to medication may need a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure. Your interventional cardiologist closes the PFO with a small closure device. This is done in a cardiac catheterization (cath) laboratory.
During transcatheter repair, a healthcare provider inserts a device that can plug up the PFO. This device attaches to the end of a long, flexible tube called a catheter. The healthcare provider inserts the catheter through a blood vessel in the groin and guides it to the PFO.
During the procedure, an interventional cardiologist: Makes a tiny incision in your groin and inserts a catheter into a blood vessel. Uses ultrasound imaging to get a closer view of the PFO. May guide a deflated balloon through the catheter and move it to the PFO.
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.
If you have a patent foramen ovale and had a stroke, your provider may refer you to a doctor trained in brain and nervous system conditions. This type of provider is called a neurologist.
Are You a Candidate for PFO Closure? You may be a candidate for minimally invasive PFO closure if you: Have been diagnosed with a PFO and have had a stroke due to an unknown cause (one not attributed to a condition such as atrial fibrillation or carotid artery disease)
A healthcare provider may recommend a PFO closure procedure if: You've had a transient ischemic attack (TIA) more than once. You've had cryptogenic (from an unknown cause) strokes more than once. You have a low level of oxygen in your blood.
Most PFOs don't need to be closed. Most PFOs cause no symptoms or complications. Larger PFOs may cause stroke. People with symptomatic or large PFOs may benefit from a procedure to close the hole.
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.