Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Treatment in Eau Claire

A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a hole in the heart that remains open after birth. It’s a small opening between the atria, the heart's upper chambers. Normally, the foramen ovale closes during infancy, but if it doesn't, it's called a PFO. Most people with PFO do not require treatment.

Treatment

Treatment is generally not required for individuals with a patent foramen ovale. If a PFO is discovered during an echocardiogram performed for other reasons, a procedure to close the hole is usually not performed.

When treatment for a PFO is needed, it may include:

• Medicines
• A catheter procedure to close the hole
• Surgery to close the hole

Medications

Doctors might give medicines to lower the risk of blood clots passing through a patent foramen ovale. Blood thinners could help people with a patent foramen ovale who have had a stroke.

Surgery or other procedures

If a person has a PFO along with low oxygen levels in their blood or an unexplained stroke, they might need a procedure to close the hole.

Closing a patent foramen ovale to prevent migraines is not recommended as the first treatment choice. Closing a patent foramen ovale to stop repeated strokes is done only after doctors who specialize in heart and nerve disorders agree it will help.

Procedures to close a patent foramen ovale include:

• Device closure. In this procedure, the provider inserts a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into a blood vessel in the groin area. The catheter tip has a device to plug the PFO. The provider guides the equipment to the heart to close the opening.

Complications of device closure are uncommon. They may include a tear of the heart or blood vessels, movement of the device, or irregular heartbeats.

• Surgical closure. In this heart surgery, the surgeon uses stitches to close the PFO. This surgery can be done using a very small incision. It may be done using robotic techniques.

If heart surgery is needed for another reason, your provider may recommend that this surgery be done at the same time.