What is PFO?
The heart has four chambers: Right Atrium, Left Atrium, Right Ventricle and Left Ventricle. You can see these chambers in the image below.
What you see in the image above is a healthy heart. In a healthy heart there is no hole between the two upper chambers (Left Atrium and Right Atrium).
Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) is a hole in the heart between the upper chambers as shown in the image below.
This hole exists in everyone before birth, but most often closes permanently sometime during infancy. PFO is what the hole is called when it fails to close naturally after a baby is born.
In other word, the hole between Right Atrium and Left Atrium exist in all people before being born. This opening is supposed to close after birth, however, sometimes it does not. The hole which remains open is called PFO.
Studies show that almost 1 out of 4 people has PFO. That is 25% of the population.
Causes
It is unclear what causes the PFO but genetics is there to be blamed!
Possible Complications
Usually, there are no direct complications caused by PFO. However, the recent studies have found that people with PFO have a higher rate of unexplained strokes and migraines.
In some cases PFO can cause a significant amount of blood to bypass the lungs, resulting in low blood oxygen level which is called Hypoxemia. Symptoms of Hypoxemia are fast or slow heart rate, cough, confusion, sweating, wheezing, rapid breathing, and shortness of breadth.
Diagnosis
PFO can be diagnosed by cardiologists through performing some tests on you.
Treatment
In some circumstances, the doctor may recommend that you have a procedure for closing the PFO. Closure of PFO may be done to treat low blood oxygen level linked to PFO or to prevent strokes and migraines. Doctors may recommend closure of PFO in patients who have had recurrent strokes despite medical therapy with no other cause has been found.
How is the procedure for PFO closure?
A small closure device will be inserted to the heart using cardiac catheterization. Basically, the device is embedded inside a catheter which is a long thin flexible tube. The catheter is inserted into a blood vessel from your groin. The catheter would be directed to the heart through the vessel, and the device would be deployed inside the heart to close the PFO. Usually, you'll be awake during this procedure. Some medications may be given to you to help you relax. Recovery time for this procedure is quick, and there's a low risk of complications.
Where to go for diagnosis and treatment of PFO
St. Michael’s Hospital located in downtown Toronto provides state-of-the-art Cardiac Catheterization supported by the most advanced intra-procedural diagnostic technologies. If you have symptoms of PFO, you can book an appointment with a cardiologist at St. Michael’s Hospital.