Patent Foramen Ovale / Atrial Septal Defect Closure / Ventricular septal defect closure
Patent foramen ovale is a small flap like opening between the right atrium and left atrium in the heart. Patent foramen ovale occurs in about 1 in 4 people, but most people with the condition never know they have it. A patent foramen ovale is often discovered during tests for other health problems.
Generally, a patent foramen ovale (PFO) doesn't cause complications. Some people with a PFO may have other heart defects.
Possible complications of patent foramen ovale may include:
Low blood oxygen. Rarely, a patent foramen ovale can cause a significant amount of blood to bypass the lungs, causing low blood oxygen levels (hypoxemia).
Stroke. Sometimes small blood clots in veins may travel to the heart. They may go through a patent foramen ovale and into the left side of the heart, where they can travel to the brain and block blood flow, causing an ischemic stroke.