Patent Foramen Ovale: Causes, Symptoms, Daignosis, Prevention and Treatment

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Patent Foramen Ovale
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Patent Foramen Ovale

• A small opening is usually present between the
  two upper chambers of the heart during the
  development of a fetus. Normally, it closes
  during infancy.When it does not close and
  leaves a hole in the heart, it is called patent
  foramen ovale. It is very common to have this
  condition and most people with patent foramen
  ovale may not know that they have it. It is
  usually discovered when diagnosing for other
  problems.If you have patent foramen ovale, it
  is a matter of concern. But, most people need not
  be treated for the condition.

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Causes of Patent Foramen Ovale

• However the cause for patent foramen ovale is
  still unknown, researchers think that genes play
  a role. Because a baby does not breathe when it
  is inside the womb of the mother, the lungs of
  the baby would not be functioning.Therefore, it
  is not required for the heart to pass blood to
  the lungs. Instead, a bypass route is used to
  circulate the blood from the body of the mother
  to the body of the baby.When this blood is
  passing through the umbilical cord, most of the
  blood travels through the foramen ovale into left
  atrium. From here, it passes through the left
  ventricle and is then circulated to the whole of
  babys body.

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Causes of Patent Foramen Ovale
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• When the baby is born and the lungs of the baby
  begin working, this pattern changes. Instead of
  the umbilical cord, the oxygen-rich blood now
  comes in from the lungs. The normal route for
  blood circulation now comes into effect.When
  this change happens, the blood pressure of the
  heart makes the opening of the foramen flap to
  get closed. In most people, this occurs during
  infancy. In case, if this process does not
  happen, it causes patent foramen ovale.

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Prevention

• Although prevention is not possible, you could
  take certain precautionary measures like staying
  fit, following medications to prevent clotting of
  blood, etc.

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How is Patent Foramen Ovale diagnosed?

• Your doctor may use one of the following tests
  to diagnose the existence of the syndrome
• Echocardiogram
• Saline Contrast Study
• Color Flow Doppler
• Trans-esophageal Echocardiogram

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Symptoms of Patent Foramen Ovale

• Most people with the syndrome do not have any
  signs or symptoms. It is usually a hidden
  condition that does not produce any kind of
  symptom.

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How is Patent Foramen Ovale treated?

• However most people with the syndrome do not
  require treatment your doctor may suggest closure
  of the patent foramen ovale. This can be done if
  low oxygen levels in your blood are attributed to
  patent foramen ovale.Medication is used to
  treat the condition, to prevent the clotting of
  blood and to thin the blood.In some of the
  instances, doctors may suggest closure of the
  patent foramen ovale in individuals who have had
  recurrent strokes despite having medical
  intervention.

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How is Patent Foramen Ovale treated?
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• Patent foramen ovale is treated by surgically
  closing the hole between the left and right
  sections of the heart. Some procedures that serve
  the purpose are
• Device Closure - In this method, the doctor
  inserts a device that plugs in the hole. A
  slender tube called catheter is used for the
  purpose. However rare, complications may arise in
  this procedure due to tearing of heart or blood
  vessels or the catheter getting dislocated.
• Surgery - Your doctor can close the hole by
  stitching up the flaps surgically. This can be
  performed either through a small incision or
  through robots.

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