Patent Foramen Ovale In Wake
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A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a hole in the wall that that separates the heart's two upper chambers (atria). All babies have this opening (called a foramen ovale) before birth to allow blood to bypass the lungs. Shortly after birth, the tissue usually grows together and closes the hole.
Usually, patent foramen ovale causes no problems. But PFO may let a blood clot travel from the right to the left side of your heart. Your heart could pump the clot into your body. If the clot reaches your brain, it could cut off the blood supply.
Can PFO get worse? Generally speaking, a PFO doesn't change as patients age. But other changes in the heart and the circulation may change the pressures in the heart on each side of the flap, leading to more frequent opening of the flap and wider opening of the flap.
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 PFO may increase the risk of strokes because tiny blood clots elsewhere in the body can break loose and go to the heart via the blood. These tiny clots are usually filtered out of the blood by the lungs. In a person with a PFO, the clot can slip from the right atrium to the left atrium.
How to manage patent foramen ovale Eating a healthy diet. Getting enough exercise and avoiding obesity. Taking medicines for high blood pressure or high cholesterol, as needed. Not smoking. Getting treatment for other health conditions that increase the risk for stroke. Avoiding excess alcohol use or illicit drugs.
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.
People with symptomatic or large PFOs may benefit from a procedure to close the hole. Specialists in our Interventional Cardiology Program use a long, flexible tube (catheter) to insert a closure device in the hole. This device closes the PFO and prevents blood flow between the left and right atria.
For babies and children with a patent foramen ovale (PFO) — a small opening in the form of a flap in the wall between the upper chambers of the heart — a cardiac catheterization procedure can close the defect and allow blood flow to be more normal.
How is patent foramen ovale treated? Most PFOs don't need any treatment. If your child needs surgery for another heart defect, the PFO may be closed at the time of the surgery. In rare cases, your child's doctor may recommend closing the PFO surgically.