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Patent Foramen Ovale
Alternate Names : PFO
Definition
Fetuses have a normal opening between the left and right atria (upper chambers) of the heart. If this opening fails to close naturally soon after the baby is born, the condition is called patent foramen ovale (PFO).
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
PFO is the persistence of a fetal opening between the left and right atria (upper chambers) of the heart. This hole allows blood to bypass the lungs, because they are not used until a baby is born. The foramen ovale normally closes soon after the infant is born.
The foramen ovale may remain open in as many as 1 out of 5 people. The cause is unknown and there are no known risk factors for developing a PFO.
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• Definition
• Patent Foramen Ovale Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• Patent Foramen Ovale Symptoms & Signs
• Patent Foramen Ovale Diagnosis & Tests
• Patent Foramen Ovale Treatment
• Patent Foramen Ovale Prognosis
• Patent Foramen Ovale Complications
• Calling Your Health Care Provider
• Pictures & Images
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Review Date : 5/13/2002
Reviewed By : Satish K. Rajagopal, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, The Children's Hospital of New York, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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