St Vincents Private Hospitals

Patent foramen ovale closure is a medical procedure that is used to repair a small hole between the upper chambers of the heart that ordinarily should have closed naturally after birth. Unlike atrial septal defects, where the heart wall has not formed properly in the womb, patent foramen ovale is a hole that is normally present in all babies. If the hole does not close after birth, the blood can flow between the upper chambers and potentially lead to a stroke. Patent foramen ovale closure stitches together the heart wall to close up the gap. It may either be performed as open surgery, or using minimally invasive techniques by making small incisions in your chest.

What does it do?

Patent foramen ovale is a condition that is often diagnosed through tests for another health concern and doesn’t always require treatment. There are no direct symptoms, but it is frequently found in patients who have experienced a stroke. An opening in the heart wall means that blood can pass between the upper chambers of your heart. This also means a blood clot could potentially get pumped into your body and reach your brain, causing a stroke. Closing up this structural defect in the heart wall helps prevent this from happening, and reduces the risk of future strokes.

How does it work?

Patent foramen ovale closure works by closing up the hole in the heart wall that should have naturally sealed up itself at birth, or shortly after. The condition is diagnosed using special imaging techniques that are used to examine your heart, such as a transthoracic echocardiogram or a transoesophageal echocardiogram. In some cases, treatment is not necessary, and the risk of blood clots can be managed with blood thinning medication. Some patients may benefit from surgery, and this may either be performed using a catheter and closure device, or as open heart surgery