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Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Learning Center

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Welcome

If this opening fails to close naturally soon after the baby is born, the hole is called patent foramen ovale(PFO).A patent foramen ovale(PFO) allows blood to bypass the lungs. A baby''s lungs are not used when it grows...

Basic Info

Symptoms
Infants with a patent foramen ovale and no other heart defects do not have symptoms.
Causes
A patent foramen ovale (PFO) allows blood to bypass the lungs. A baby's lungs are not used when it grows in the womb...
Tests
An echocardiogram can be done to diagnose a PFO. If the PFO is not easily seen, a cardiologist can perform a "bubble...
Treatments
This condition is not treated unless other heart abnormalities exist or if you had a stroke caused by a blood clot to...
Drugs
  • No Known Drug Therapy
Risk Factors
  • No Known Risk Factors
Complications
Unless there are other associated defects, there are usually no complications associated with a PFO. There have been...
Prevention
  • No known prevention
Doctor Specialties
Call your health care provider if your baby turns blue when crying or defecating. Usually, however, this disorder is...

Basic Info

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