PFO (Patent Foramen Ovale) Closures

A PFO (Patent Foramen Ovale) is an defect in the atrial septum, which separates the two atria.

In a developing fetus, there is an opening between the left and right atrium. This opening allows the blood to bypass the lungs. When the baby is born, that opening is normally closed, and blood will flow to the lungs.

PFO most commonly causes stroke by allowing clots to escape the left atrium and travel to the brain. In people without a PFO, most clots would be stopped and passed to the lungs.

PFO is a congenital defect. This means that it occurs during fetal development and is present at birth. Some cases may be caused by a genetic defect or abnormality inherited from a parent. Others can be caused by illnesses suffered by the mother during pregnancy.

Most of the time, the cause is unknown. People with minor-to-moderate defects may show no symptoms. Or, they may not begin to show symptoms until later in life.

PFO can be diagnosed by a transesophageal echocardiograph, during which the ultrasound probe is passed down the throat in the esophagus or food pipe. The esophagus sits very close to heart. This method allows for clearer images of the heart than other methods.

Small defects that produce few or no symptoms may not require treatment. Also, many defects may close on their own without treatment. Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you.

Tampa Bay Heart Institute at both Northside Hospital and Largo Medical Center offers a minimally-invasive procedure to close PFOs without surgery. A closure device is inserted through a heart catheter, which is inserted in the groin. This device deploys on both sides of the PFO, and is usually healed over by about 3-6 months, at which time it becomes a part of the heart wall.