PFO Closure

PFO, or Patent Foramen Ovale, is a type of ASD (atrial septal defect) or “hole in the heart.” It is located in the wall that separates the two small upper heart chambers, the atria, from each other. It is present in all people at birth but usually closes on its own early in life. On occasion this natural hole fails to close. It usually goes undetected but some people may develop symptoms of stroke when a blood clot passes from the right side of the heart, through the hole into the left side of the heart and up to the brain. The same clots may also go to other organs and cause kidney failure, intestinal damage, etc. In those cases the hole may be closed utilizing a procedure that is done via an approach through the leg veins. It is a procedure that is done in the hospital. People having the procedure can usually go home the same day.