Patent Foramen Ovale

Patent Foramen Ovale

It is defined as the hole between the upper chambers of heart which is not close after birth. Normally it closes during infancy if it not closes on its own then it is called patent foramen ovale.

SymptomsPFO Symptoms Causes Treatment

There are no specific signs and symptoms of foramen ovale because it is a hidden condition and doesn’t cause any obvious symptoms.

Causes

The exact cause of this condition is not clear but genetic condition play a huge role in congenital heart disease.

Diagnosis

After taking medical history and conducting a physical examination your doctor might recommend a following tests to confirm the diagnosis:

  • MRI to see the actual hole size
  • ECG to check the electrical activity of heart
  • Chest x-ray to see the normal size and shape of heart
  • Cardiac catheterization
  • Doppler ultrasound
Treatment

Treatment depend upon the severity of symptoms and age of patient, treatment option includes:

  • Wait until hole closes on its own.
  • Medications to prevent thrombosis
  • Surgical closure if medicine don’t improve the condition
  • Antibiotics to prevent secondary infections
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