What if pfo

Some studies have found that PFOs are more common in people with unexplained strokes and migraines with aura. However, more research is needed. Usually, there are other reasons for these conditions, and it's just a coincidence the person also has a PFO. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview A patent foramen ovale PFO is a hole in the heart that didn't close the way it should after birth.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Chambers and valves of the heart Open pop-up dialog box Close. Chambers and valves of the heart A typical heart has two upper and two lower chambers. Patent foramen ovale Open pop-up dialog box Close. Patent foramen ovale A patent foramen ovale is a small, flap-like opening in the wall between the right and left upper chambers of the heart.

Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Patent foramen ovale PFO. American Heart Association. Accessed May 7, Ferri FF. About Congenital Heart Defects. The Impact of Congenital Heart Defects. Understand Your Risk. Symptoms and Diagnosis. Care and Treatment. Tools and Resources. Our online community of survivors and caregivers is here to keep you going no matter the obstacles. How would you know? What's to be done? Last Reviewed: Mar 31, Support That Lifts You Up Our online community of survivors and caregivers is here to keep you going no matter the obstacles.

In some cases, your healthcare provider may still choose not to treat the PFO. Another choice is treatment with antiplatelet medicines such as aspirin. Or you may take anticoagulant medicines such as warfarin. These can help prevent blood clots. Your healthcare provider may also the PFO by transcatheter repair or heart surgery. A transcatheter repair is less invasive than a surgical repair. You usually recover more quickly.

Your healthcare provider might be less likely to recommend this treatment if you need surgical repair for another heart problem in addition to the PFO. Ask your healthcare provider what treatment is best for you. Complications are very rare with this procedure. But they do sometimes happen. Risk factors may vary based on age, the size of the defect, and other health problems.

Possible risks include:. There is also a risk that the procedure will not fix the PFO. Ask your healthcare provider about your specific risks. Ask your healthcare provider about how to get ready for this procedure.

You should not eat or drink anything after midnight before the day of the procedure. You may also need to stop taking any medicine beforehand. Talk with your healthcare provider about what to expect.

Your procedure may vary depending on the kind of echocardiogram the healthcare provider uses. A cardiologist and a team of specialized nurses will do the procedure, usually in a cardiac catheterization lab. In general:. A baby's lungs are not used when it grows in the womb, so the hole does not cause problems in an unborn infant. The opening is supposed to close soon after birth, but sometimes it does not.

In about 1 out of 4 people, the opening never closes. If it does not close, it is called a PFO. 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. Infants with a PFO and no other heart defects do not have symptoms. Some adults with PFOs also suffer from migraine headaches. An echocardiogram can be done to diagnose a PFO.

If the PFO is not easily seen, a cardiologist can perform a "bubble test. If a PFO exists, tiny air bubbles will be seen moving from the right to left side of the heart.

This condition is not treated unless there are other heart problems, symptoms, or if the person had a stroke caused by a blood clot to the brain. Treatment most often requires a procedure called cardiac catheterization, which is performed by a trained cardiologist to permanently seal the PFO.