PFO Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) is a congenital heart defect in which the foramen ovale does not close after the baby is born. The foramen ovale is the opening that connects the right and left chambers of the heart (atria). This organ functions in circulation throughout the baby’s body while in the womb because the lungs are not yet functioning. Normally, the foramen ovale will close automatically after the baby is born because the lung function begins to work.
PFO is quite common, in 1 in 4 people. Treatment is not needed if it is not causing heart disease or complications such as migraines or strokes.
Symptoms
In most cases, a patent foramen ovale (PFO) does not cause any symptoms. But in some rare cases, babies with PFO can experience some signs.
One of the signs that arise is cyanosis, in which the skin turns blue when the baby cries or strains. Cyanosis appears only in PFO or another congenital heart disease such as tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).
Whereas in adults who suffer from PFO, the signs that can arise are migraines and strokes.
Reason
Until now, the exact cause of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) is not known with certainty. When the baby is born, the first breath will make the lungs function normally. Clean blood from the lungs that enters the left heart chamber makes the pressure in the left heart chamber increase so that it closes the foramen ovale.
In some cases, the new foramen ovale will close at the age of 1 or 2 years or even not at all, causing a PFO. In PFO, clean and dirty blood is mixed.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) can be known from a heart examination, namely an echocardiogram. If the foramen ovale opening is difficult to see on echo, a bubble test may be performed.
This test is done by injecting liquid saline through a vein. On examination, you can see air bubbles moving from the right ventricle to the left of the heart, so the doctor can confirm that there is a positive PFO.
Treatment
In most cases, a patent foramen ovale (PFO) does not require special treatment. However, under certain conditions, the PFO can be closed through a catheterization procedure. The catheter tube is inserted through the blood vessels around the groin and towards the heart. If this procedure fails, surgery can be performed.
Adult patients with PFO who have had a blood clot or stroke may require the closure of the foramen ovale. Actions that can be done is to install a lid or heart surgery.