Patent Foramen Ovale / Atrial Septal Defect Closure / Ventricular septal defect closure

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) between the upper two chamber of the heart (atria). This allows for unoxegenated blood from the right side of the heart to pass through to the left side of the heart and out to the body

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.