Patent Foramen Ovale Repair

Chest pain and chest pressure

Understanding Angina

What is it?

Patent Foramen Ovale Repair

What’s it for?

A patent foramen ovale repair, or closure, is a procedure that’s done to close the flap in the wall of the atrial septum, also called a patent foramen ovale. During this procedure, a catheter with a closure device is inserted through the leg vein up to the heart, where the device is left to close up the flap.

How is it done?

Prior to the procedure, a patient will have a cardiac catheterization to access the exact size and location of the defect. During the procedure, a closure device is attached to a catheter, which is inserted into a vein in the groin and advanced to the heart and through the defect with the assistance of x-ray and intra-cardiac echo. The cardiologist will push the closure device out of the catheter slowly so that it opens to cover each edge of the defect, sealing it closed. Over time, scar tissue grows over the closure device and it becomes part of the heart.

Currently there are no FDA-approved devices for PFO closure, however, the devices used close PFOs are currently approved to treat other conditions such as Atrial Septal Defects.

Risks

Risks for PFO closure are very small but include:

  • Bleeding
  • Infection
  • Damage to the heart
  • Heart rhythm problems
  • Device embolization (moving to the wrong place)
  • Stroke

Technology and expertise

Nonsurgical ASD and PFO closure